2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
3/10/2020 | 9:40 AM - 10:10 AM | Successful Natural Sleep ABR Evaluations, Our Reality at Kaiser Permanente Colorado | Benton
Successful Natural Sleep ABR Evaluations, Our Reality at Kaiser Permanente Colorado
Since 2016, Kaiser Permanente Colorado has been utilizing a natural sleep Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) protocol that has proven to be not only successful but extremely cost effective. In audiology, the behavioral testing of children can be difficult and not always provide the degree of information necessary to clearly define the auditory status of the child. There are many reasons for this failure, the most prevalent at our clinic is the age of the child, the 18-36 month old child often being the most challenging. Other reasons include developmental delays, physical limitations, behavioral issues, speech/language delays and autism. The ABR evaluation is considered the most objective and effective measurement of auditory sensitivity. The equipment that we utilize is most effective with a sleeping infant/child. To achieve this status, the child was evaluated while in a sedated state in our ambulatory surgery center. There were several reasons why we decided to pilot this project. The most compelling reason was parent preference. Many parents expressed concern over sedation and were reluctant to pursue testing, often delaying other evaluations that were pending the audiology evaluation. The next reason was the complexity of scheduling the sedated ABR evaluations in an ambulatory surgery center, typically taking at least a month from the date of behavioral testing before the actual sedated procedure, again delaying access to other evaluations and services. Finally, the cost of a procedure done in the ambulatory surgery center was more expensive for the family due to a higher co-pay for the utilization of the center and more expensive for Kaiser Permanente, with the many costs associated with an OR environment. To date, over 200 children have been evaluated with an ABR in the natural sleep state with a success rate of over 90%.
- How to be successful with a natural sleep ABR
- How to establish a protocol/program. What are the actual numbers at KP Colorado
- What are the actual financial considerations, financial breakdown
Presentation:
21060_12649LindaHerzberger-Kimball.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Linda Herzberger-Kimball
(), Kaiser Permanente Colorado, linda.k.herzberger@kp.org;
I have been an audiologist for Kaiser Permanente Colorado for almost 30 years, specializing in pediatric audiology. My official title is Lead Pediatric Audiologist. I participated in developing the Newborn Hearing Screening Follow-up Program, which was chosen to receive the highest honor/award Kaiser Permanente gives for this type of project in 2000. I have managed this program since it's inception. I developed the KP Colorado Pediatric Audiology Clinic, which now involves all three of our major
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -