2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
| Enhancing Rural Pediatric Hearing Healthcare: Use of Targeted Educational Materials to Empower Providers and Families to Overcome Referral Barriers
Enhancing Rural Pediatric Hearing Healthcare: Use of Targeted Educational Materials to Empower Providers and Families to Overcome Referral Barriers
Timely identification and intervention for pediatric cochlear implant candidates is critical to optimizing spoken language outcomes and achieving normal developmental milestones. Children in rural areas face numerous barriers in gaining access to cochlear implants including delayed identification of candidacy, referral, and surgical intervention compared to their urban counterparts (Noblitt et al., 2018). This study investigates whether targeted educational materials for rural pediatric providers and families can reduce perceived barriers and enhance confidence in pursuing hearing loss treatment. Using data from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy a comprehensive list of rural medical providers (e.g., Primary Care, Pediatrics, ENT, Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology) was created. An initial survey assessed providers perceived barriers and needs related to pediatric cochlear implant referrals. Each participating site received two tailored educational packets—one for providers and one for families. A follow-up survey evaluated the impact of these materials on provider and family confidence in initiating hearing treatment. Results suggest increased provider confidence in identifying candidates and greater family empowerment. Findings urge audiologists to strengthen rural partnerships and promote timely cochlear implant referrals through accessible resources.
- Evaluate the impact of targeted educational materials on rural healthcare providers’ confidence in identifying and referring pediatric cochlear implant candidates.
- Identify common barriers to cochlear implant access in rural pediatric populations and learn strategies to address these challenges.
- Discuss the role of audiologists in fostering rural partnerships with medical providers and families.
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Presenters/Authors
Acayla P Chung
(Primary Presenter), Rocky Mountain Ear Center, acru8842@colorado.edu;
Acayla P Chung is a Doctorate of Audiology student at the University of Colorado Boulder, completing her fourth-year externship at Rocky Mountain Ear Center and Cochlear Americas. She previously conducted research on mild-gain amplification fitting approaches for individuals with a history of traumatic brain injury, normal hearing and poor speech perception, which was published in the American Journal of Audiology.
Under the mentorship of Allison Biever, AuD, Chung is now focusing on identifying barriers to timely cochlear implant referrals in rural pediatric populations, exploring telemedicine solutions to improve access and outcomes, and promoting awareness and adoption of pediatric cochlear implant referral guidelines.
Outside of her academic pursuits, Acayla serves on her local Search and Rescue team and enjoys rock climbing with her husband.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with University of Colorado Boulder, Rocky Mountain Ear Center, Cochlear Americas.
Nature: Doctorate of Audiology Student Extern.
Nonfinancial -
Non-Financial relationship with University of Colorado Boulder, Rocky Mountain Ear Center, Cochlear Americas.
Nature: Doctorate of Audiology Student Extern.