2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference

March 13 - 15, 2022

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3/03/2021  |   2:10 PM - 2:30 PM   |  Facilitating Infant Language Intervention Through Quality Improvement   |  Topical Breakout

Facilitating Infant Language Intervention Through Quality Improvement

Successful early intervention for children with hearing loss requires careful coordination between families and multiple medical providers. During the early stages of identification and intervention, infants and their families move through a series of evaluations and appointments aimed at diagnosis and subsequent management of hearing loss while interfacing with audiologists, otolaryngologists, geneticists, speech/language pathologists, and early interventionists. The complexity of navigating this journey often leads to loss-to-follow-up at any point in the process, which can be due to lack of provider referral or limited resources for family follow-through. This presentation will review a quality improvement study aimed at facilitating evaluation of speech and language skills by 12 months of age at a tertiary pediatric hospital. Key drivers of, and barriers to, referral for language intervention were identified and addressed through multiple interventions aimed at both provider and family education. Data were tracked quarterly to monitor potential changes in referrals and completion of evaluations over the course of two years. Specific data trends will be shared regarding successful interventions and continuous barriers to early intervention. Additionally, the impact of COVID-19 during this time period and the successful implementation of telehealth to facilitate language intervention will be discussed.

  • Describe evidence-based practice speech & language intervention guidelines for children with hearing loss
  • Identify strategies to facilitate successful speech & language intervention and monitoring
  • Identify modern quality improvement methods for facilitating evidence-based practice and measuring improvement in patient care.

Presentation:
23278_13589UrsulaFindlen.pdf

Handouts:
Handout is not Available

Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference


Presenters/Authors

Ursula Findlen (), Nationwide Children's Hospital, ursula.findlen@nationwidechildrens.org;
Ursula M. Findlen, Ph.D., is the Director of Audiology Research in the Division of Clinical Therapies- Audiology Department at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and an Assistant Professor-Clinical at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Findlen engages in clinical practice and research endeavors related to pediatric (re)habilitative audiology, particularly in regards to a multidisciplinary team approach to family-centered care. Her research interests include infant diagnostics and improving outcomes of children with hearing loss through systematic quality improvement and population health endeavors.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.

Gina Hounam (), Nationwide Children's Hospital, gina.hounam@nationwidechildrens.org;
Gina Hounam is the program manager of Audiology at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Gina received a B.A. in Speech and Hearing Science at Ohio State University and received her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati. Gina has been an audiologist for 15+ years and her professional interests include relationship-centered care, community outreach, UNHS and hearing aids.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.

Lindsey Pauline (), Nationwide Children's Hospital, lindsey.pauline@nationwidechildrens.org;
Lindsey Boyer Pauline, MA, CCC-SLP is a speech language pathologist with more than a decade experience in acute care, rehab and outpatient services. She has a clinical specialty in voice and swallowing disorders, and research interests in public policy and corporate speech-language pathology. She founded Corporate Communication and Public Speaking Consulting (CCPSC), a private consulting organization that strives to provide opportunities for individuals and companies to improve their public speaking and interpersonal communication, in 2005.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -

Nonfinancial -

Kris Jatana (), Nationwide Children's Hospital, Kris.Jatana@nationwidechildrens.org;
Kris R. Jatana, MD, a native of Columbus, is a Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. He is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He serves as a reviewer for several reputed peer review journals. For over 20 years, he has been involved with basic science, clinical, and/or translational research. Dr. Jatana has been an author on >100 published manuscripts and book chapters, and >100 presentations at scientific meetings. His work has earned several national and international awards. Specific clinical expertise includes: pediatric benign and malignant tumors and complex congenital masses of the head and neck, maxillofacial trauma and reconstruction, airway reconstruction, chronic ear and sinus diseases, quality improvement, aerodigestive foreign bodies and injury prevention (consumer product safety).


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

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Nonfinancial -

Prashant Malhotra (), Nationwide Children's Hospital, Prashant.Malhotra@nationwidechildrens.org;
Prashant Solanki Malhotra, MD, FAAP, is a member of the Department of Otolaryngology and the Hearing Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Malhotra received his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, in 2004. He completed an internship in General Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and completed his residency in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. He spent an additional year as a fellow and clinical instructor of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University. Dr. Malhotra’s clinical and research interests primarily focus on problems relating to pediatric hearing loss and cochlear implantation, pediatric head and neck masses including malignancies, and all other aspects of pediatric otolaryngology and facial reconstructive surgery.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -

Nonfinancial -