2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
3/20/2018 | 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM | Audiology Consulting Team: Why More Really Is Better | Mineral D/E
Audiology Consulting Team: Why More Really Is Better
In Idaho, an Audiology Consulting Team (ACT) was formed as an improved link between the newborn hearing screening (NHS) programs and consulting audiologists for our EHDI program. Idaho has seven regions in a wide geographical area. There are 31 birthing hospitals, most of which cover rural areas and Idaho is one of the few states without a legislative mandate for NHS. Our rural hospitals have screeners who are nurses and do everything from birth babies to follow-up care on adult surgery patients. Providing mentoring and individualized support to the hospital screeners, nurse managers, and physicians, helping them to align with the 1-3-6 national initiatives, and connecting families to their local early interventionists are goals that can be realized when the work is spread across a team of audiologist versus resting solely on one.
Our team consists of five audiologists; four of whom have divided the seven Idaho’s health regions between them and one who provides support for all regions regarding high risk factor monitoring. We support the hospitals and midwife programs throughout the state. There are several great reasons we have taken this team approach:
1. Given our large geographical region, having only one audiologist mentoring all regions would require a significant amount of travel.
2. There has been turnover in both the ACT and NHS programs and yet the ACT has been able to provide consistent support.
3. All ACT members are pediatric audiologists who see patients clinically; so when we talk to NHS programs, we are able to discuss specific cases and families we are currently caring for, not just numbers.
4. We are able to provide more individualized attention as we know the personnel we support very well.
5. We are able to provide individualized mentoring to audiologists in each region concerning diagnostics and intervention services.
- 1. Be able to list 3 reasons why having more than one audiologist provide mentoring to newborn hearing screening programs throughout the state is beneficial
- 2. Be able to explain why the ACT brings strength and builds unity among audiologists who work with the program, allows for additional outreach, and provides stability to the program.
- 3. Be able to explain how having a team approach to audiology consultation has allowed for more consistency and program improvement than relying on a single audiologist.
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Presenters/Authors
Brian Shakespeare
(), Idaho Sound Beginnings, Brian.Shakespeare@dhw.idaho.gov;
Brian Shakespeare has worked for Idaho Sound Beginnings since 2011; starting as the Data Manager and being promoted as Program Coordinator in 2014. He received his Baccalaureate of Science in Psychology from Boise State University in 2009. Following graduation he worked with children with developmental disabilities for two years, eventually becoming a Certified Behavioral Interventionist. Brian’s major accomplishments with Idaho Sound Beginnings include receiving the Outstanding Organization of the Year Award from the Idaho Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, overseeing data linkages between HiTrack, Idaho’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Information System, and the databases of both Idaho Vital Records and ITPKIDS, Idaho’s Part C database, as well as implementing process improvements in screening programs and audiology clinics across the state. Brian enjoys playing soccer, rock climbing, and taking his two Boston Terriers to the park to play Frisbee golf.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Debbie Baerlocher
(), St. Luke's Hearing and Balance Center, baerlocd@slhs.org;
Dr. Debbie Baerlocher, AuD, is a pediatric audiologist at the St Luke’s Hearing and Balance Center in Meridian. She specializes in pediatric evaluations (behavioral and electrophysiologic), amplification, rehabilitation and auditory processing disorders. She has been working with the Idaho Sound Beginnings program for over 14 years and currently provides support, training and excitement to newborn hearing screeners for Regions 1, 2, 3 and the midwives. She has presented locally and nationally as well on topics related to diagnostics and newborn hearing screening. Outside of work, she enjoys her four daughters and husband, gardening, reading and singing.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -