19th ANNUAL EARLY HEARING DETECTION & INTERVENTION MEETING
March 8-10, 2020 • Kansas City, MO
The Impact of Non-Detectable Zika Infection
While it has been several years since the emergence of the Zika virus epidemic, the infection continues to be a threat to the development of children identified as infected or exposed. Due to the neurotropic nature of Zika Virus, the mystery of how the virus manifests itself in the developing child is still unknown. Because of this, pediatric health professionals must remain vigilant when assessing language, motor and cognitive domains in this population of patients. These professionals must also ensure to include both age and developmentally appropriate measures in their management to identify interventions promoting neurodevelopment. Although microcephalic children have been associated with having developmental delays, the neurodevelopment of nonmicrocephalic Zika-exposed children should not be undervalued. In this prospective case review, language development for both exposed and infected children were significantly delayed for their age. The objective of this study is to provide clinicians an update on neurodevelopmental delays observed in Zika-infected and Zika-exposed children. Through review of the current literature and clinical observations, findings related to the auditory and neurodevelopment of Zika-infected and Zika-exposed patients identify a need for continued long-term monitoring of developmental milestones in children who are exposed or infected.
- Update clinicians on neurodevelopmental delays observed in Zika-infected and Zika-exposed children.
- Provide an update on auditory findings in Zika-infected and Zika-exposed children.
- Discuss current research on undetectable Zika infection.
Poster:
21060_12530AllisonLukomski.pdf
Presenter: Aliana Romero
Aliana I. Romero, AuD is a pediatric audiologist at the University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development. In the outpatient clinic, she is responsible for performing diagnostic hearing evaluations, immittance and otoacoustic emissions testing, auditory brainstem response evaluations, and Auditory Processing Disorder evaluations. She also performs hearing aid consultations, fittings, verification and troubleshooting. As an audiology extern, she completed the curriculum in Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) at the Mailman Center for Child Development. She works with Early Steps, Florida’s early intervention system and participates in the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program at Jackson Memorial Hospital. She has completed the University of Miami Emerging Transformational Leadership Program and is currently a member of the AUCD Leadership Academy 2022-2023 cohort. Aliana is dedicated to educating and mentoring students/future leaders and transforming systems of care for people with developmental disabilities in the community.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
4th Year Doctor of Audiology Student, from Salus University Osborne College of Audiology
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Robert C. Fifer, is the Director of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology at the Mailman Center for Child Development, University of Miami School of Medicine. He received his B.S. from the University of Nebraska in Speech-Language Pathology with a minor in Deaf Education. His M.A. is from Central Michigan University in Audiology, and his Ph.D. is from Baylor College of Medicine in Audiology and Bioacoustics. Dr. Fifer’s clinical and research interests include auditory evoked potentials, central auditory processing, early detection of hearing loss in children, and auditory anatomy and physiology. He is a Past-President of the Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, a member of ASHA’s Health Care Economics Committee, and the ASHA representative to the American Medical Association’s Health Care Professions Advisory Committee for the Relative Value Utilization Committee in addition to being ASHA’s representative to the AMA’s Practice Expense Advisory Committee.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Honoraria excluding diversified mutual funds for Teaching and speaking from Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Receives Salary for Employment from University of Miami.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.