19th ANNUAL EARLY HEARING DETECTION & INTERVENTION MEETING
March 8-10, 2020 • Kansas City, MO
Critical Communication Touchpoints in the Journey to Diagnosis
From the moment an infant does not pass the universal newborn hearing screen, the family embarks on a journey of which most are extremely unfamiliar. How difficult their journey is depends largely on the specific professionals they come in contact with along the way. Families face uncertainty, questions, anxiety and fear. In order for infants to receive timely and appropriate follow up, diagnosis, and intervention, parents need clear and concise guidance and direction.
This poster highlights the story of Lydia and her family. Lydia’s mom shares the challenges, uncertainties, and lack of direction experienced during the first year of her life. Despite referring on the newborn hearing screen prior to discharge from the hospital, Lydia’s diagnosis of bilateral, profound sensorineural hearing loss was not confirmed until the age of 14 months. This story identifies multiple touch points along the way where lack of clear communication, or even miscommunication, resulted in ongoing delays, as well as confusion and anxiety for the parents. Fortunately, given Lydia’s parents’ persistence and advocacy for their child, they eventually were able to get answers to their questions, obtain necessary services for Lydia, and successfully move forward in their journey, despite the late identification.
This story emphasizes the overall concern that this is not an isolated case and many other families have similar experiences. The purpose of this session is to highlight the importance of clear communication from all professionals along the way; from the hospital screening staff, to the medical home, and the audiology and otology providers involved with infants requiring follow up. Increasing awareness of communication breakdown at each critical touchpoint will hopefully help all professionals involved with early intervention learn from the experience of this family, so that future families may have an easier journey to diagnosis.
- Identify multi-disciplinary communication breakdowns that negatively impact families.
- Provide insight from a parent's perspective at critical touchpoints: screening, medical home, audiology follow-up, and diagnosis.
- Identify communication strategies to improve early identification.
Poster:
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Presenter: Tammy Uehlin
Tammy Uehlin, Au.D., CCC-A received a Bachelor of Science (Speech/Language Pathology) and Master of Communication Disorders (Audiology) from Auburn University and Doctor of Audiology from the University of Florida. She has been a member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association, (ASHA) for over 25 years. Her experience in clinical audiology includes working at the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Hospital, Veterans Administration Medical Center, HealthSouth Rehabilitation, and in private practice at an otorhinolaryngology office. Her background in newborn hearing screening includes providing screenings, training and management in the hospital setting and working as an Audiology Consultant for a newborn hearing screening company. She served as the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Coordinator for the state of Georgia prior to joining Natus Peloton Inc. as an Area Supervisor.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from Natus/Peloton Screening Services.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Amanda Simpson, Au.D., CCC-A graduated from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans with her doctorate degree in audiology. Prior to that, she studied Communication Disorders at LSU main campus, where she discovered how rewarding it is to increase others’ quality of life through better hearing and communication. Amanda has worked for the Veterans Administration (VA) Audiology Clinic, and also dabbled in private practice before joining the Peloton team in January 2015. She currently works as an Area Supervisor for Peloton, supervising newborn hearing screening programs in Louisiana. During her free time, Dr. Simpson enjoys watching football, especially her Tigers and Saints, and loves spending time with her dog, Levee!
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment,Management position from Mednax Pediatrix.
• Receives Salary,Ownership interest for Employment,Management position from Natus Peloton.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Julia Balbach, M.A., CCC-A is currently an Area Supervisor for Natus Peloton Inc overseeing newborn screening programs in multiple states in the Midwest and South. She received her Bachelors degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences and her Master’s degree in Audiology from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Prior to joining Natus Peloton in December, 2014, she was a long time Director of Audiology and an early intervention provider at the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center in Evansville, Indiana. She was also a regional audiology consultant for the Indiana EHDI program for 15 years.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary,Ownership interest for Employment,Other activities from Natus Medical.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.