2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
3/09/2015 | 11:05 AM - 11:35 AM | The Michigan Midwives Collaborative Project: Guide for UNHS Program Implementation for Home Birthed Babies | Willis | 1
The Michigan Midwives Collaborative Project: Guide for UNHS Program Implementation for Home Birthed Babies
Although universal newborn hearing screening programs have been implemented in all 50 states, one population that is routinely under-served is the home-birth population. In the state of MI, about 1% of babies are born at home. After a multi-year concentrated effort by EHDI staff at Michigan Department of Community Health, only about 19% of babies born at home were receiving a newborn hearing screening. This rate remained stable for two years despite extensive educational and outreach programs to improve awareness and access to universal newborn hearing screening. Anecdotal evidence from parents and midwives showed that some of the barriers to receiving a screening were related to the ease of obtaining an appointment, location of screening centers relative to the families’ home, and resistance to bringing the baby to a medical facility. In response to these concerns, the authors partnered with Michigan Coalition for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind People (who were long-time newborn hearing screening advocates) and received grant funding to purchase 15 AABR units to distribute among the midwives around MI. Five training sessions were completed and a total of 47 midwives, doulas and midwifery students were taught how to complete and report the results of the hearing screening. Equipment is often shared between several midwives in regions of the state. This presentation will provide a guide for others interested in implementing a training program for midwives in their state. Also, lessons learned from this process, suggestions for helpful changes, and areas of future need will be discussed.
- explain in importance of including midwives in the newborn hearing screening process.
- describe the barriers that families of home-birthed babies experience when trying to obtain a newborn hearing screening.
- describe the content important for training midwives to complete newborn hearing screenings.
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Presenters/Authors
Shannon Palmer
(Co-Presenter,POC), Central Michigan University, palme2sb@cmich.edu;
Shannon Palmer, AuD, PhD is an Assistant Professor at Central Michigan University where she teaches courses related to pediatric audiology, diagnostic audiology, auditory processing, and cochlear implants. She received her AuD and her PhD from the University of Connecticut. Her current research studies include incorporating midwives into universal newborn hearing screening, evaluating temporal processing using electrophysiological measures, and music appreciation of individuals with cochlear implants. Dr. Palmer also works clinically completing behavioral and electrophysiological pediatric hearing assessments, adult diagnostic assessments, auditory processing evaluations, and cochlear implant mapping.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Nan Asher
(Co-Presenter), Michigan EHDI, ashern@michigan.gov;
Nan Asher was diagnosed with a bilateral severe hearing loss at age four and has one sibling with a profound hearing loss. She has worked/volunteered in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing field for much of her professional career, Past President of Michigan Coalition for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People and past Executive Director of Michigan Association for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She’s a member the Advocacy committee with the Hearing Loss Association of Michigan. Nan graduated from Eastern Michigan University (EMU) with a Masters in Liberal Arts in Interdisciplinary Technology, and received her BA with honors in Health Administration, also at EMU. After graduation, Nan owned her own business in Hearing assistive technology and taught classes on adapting to hearing loss, assistive technology and speechreading to people of all ages. In addition, Nan spoke on Capitol Hill on Entrepreneurs with Disabilities hosted by the Paralyzed Veterans of America. As the Program Consultant for MI-EHDI, which she had previously served on their Advisory board for a few years, Nan has frequent contact with medical providers, midwives and parents, encouraging appropriate and timely follow-up. She spearheaded the Michigan Midwives Project, now currently in its 5th year. Nan is a strong advocate for finding communication modes that work for each individual and getting each person to reach for the stars.
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Wendy Switalski
(Co-Presenter), Audiology Systems, Inc., wendy@audiologysystems.com;
Wendy Switalski, Au.D. is the audiology development manager at Audiology Systems Inc. Prior to joining the company, Dr. Switalski owned a private audiology practice in metro-Detroit and served as a consultant to Otometrics, a leading manufacturer of hearing and balance equipment. She currently provides quarterly audiology care for the South Pacific territory of American Samoa. Dr. Switalski holds a Masters degree in audiology from the University of Northern Colorado, an M.B.A. from Saginaw Valley State University, and a doctor of audiology degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry School of Audiology.
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