EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
MARCH 2-5, 2021

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2/28/2017  |   11:00 AM - 11:30 AM   |  Provider Behaviors When Serving Children Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing   |  Hanover B

Provider Behaviors When Serving Children Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) 2007 best practice recommends all children who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) and their families have access to timely and coordinated entry into early intervention (EI) programs. Newborn hearing screening programs initiate this process. Idaho does not mandate newborn hearing screenings; however, most hospitals and providers choose to require them. In 2014, 98% of babies born in Idaho were screened according to Idaho Vital Records and Idaho Sound Beginnings HiTrack data. As is best practice, typical Idaho practice entails a hearing screening at birth or within one month of age. If there is a referral, a comprehensive follow-up with a pediatric audiologist is made prior to three months of age. By six months of age, children diagnosed as D/HH are advised to begin receiving services by enrolling in EI programs, and seeing an audiologist regularly. Delays in initiation of services can have adverse effects on the child’s communication development. In 2015, Idaho State University obtained a Community Collaboration grant to examine the effectiveness of the process between newborn hearing screening and enrollment in EI. One outcome of this Community Collaboration was the development of a “provider survey” to assess the providers’ perspectives of this process, to find regional discrepancies in service delivery, and to identify resources that may be needed for providers within the state. Information was obtained through a voluntary online survey directed towards current service providers who work with children who are D/HH in Idaho. One-hundred-seven healthcare providers responded to the survey, 67 which work with children who are D/HH. Responses provided valuable insight into referral practices and where resources are lacking. This presentation will present the findings from the provider survey including referral practices, coordinating care, and providers feelings about counseling and financial discussions.

  • Following completion of the presentation, participants will be able to explain the strengths of the current referral process following a child not passing their newborn hearing screening as reported by Idaho healthcare providers who work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
  • Following completion of the presentation, participants will be able to: identify the weaknesses of the current referral process following a child not passing their newborn hearing screening as reported by Idaho healthcare providers who work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
  • Following completion of the presentation, participants will be able to: identify resources currently used and recommended by Idaho healthcare providers who work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

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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.

Gabriel Bargen (), Idaho State University, barggabr@isu.edu;
Gabriel Anne Bargen, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at Idaho State University in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the Meridian Health Science Center. She also serves as the Interim Executive Director for the ISU Health Science Center in Meridian. She teaches courses at ISU, including pediatric audiology, auditory anatomy and physiology, and advance aural rehabilitation. Professional interests include pediatric audiology specifically diagnostic hearing assessment and treatment; assessing risks associated with hearing dysfunction in infants; clinical application of auditory brainstem response (ABR) for hearing screening in newborns, infants, and toddlers. Dr. Bargen’s current research focuses on evaluating risk indicators for delayed-onset hearing loss and finding ways to make resources accessible to all children who are hard of hearing or deaf in Idaho by connecting community entities across the state.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
• Receives Salary,Grants for Employment,Other activities from Idaho State University.

Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional relationship for Board membership.

Kristina Blaiser (), Idaho State University, Kristina.Blaiser@isu.edu;
Kristina Blaiser, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and directs the HATCH (Helping Adults Talk to Children) Lab at Idaho State University. Dr. Blaiser has extensive experience leading early childhood education programs and evaluating the outcomes of children who are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing. Her research interests include program evaluation and graduate training related to assessment and early intervention practices of children who are Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing. Dr. Blaiser’s recent work has focused on using telehealth to support families in early intervention. Kristina is the Coordinator for ASHA SIG 9: Hearing Loss and Hearing Disorders in Childhood.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
• Receives Grants for Other activities from Obkerkotter Foundation.

Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional (Advisory Board Member) relationship for Board membership.

Paula Mason (), Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind, paula.mason@iesdb.org ;
Paula Mason, MS, is Director of Outreach for Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind's (IESDB), supporting students throughout the state of Idaho. She has a bachelor degree in elementary education and a master degree in education of the hearing impaired both earned at Idaho State University. She is currently working on her education specialist in education leadership at the University of Idaho. Paula worked for 10 years as the IESDB Post-Secondary Transition Specialist and 3 years as a classroom teacher at the IESDB.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -

Nonfinancial -

Anna Smith (), Infant Toddler Program, smitha@dhw.idaho.gov;
Anna Smith has been employed with the Idaho Infant Toddler Program since its inception in 1991. During this time, she has been a therapist, service coordinator, Early Intervention Specialist, and currently a Program Specialist overseeing the Infant Toddler Child Find program called Developmental Milestones and working directly with the statewide regional Infant Toddler Programs to ensure compliance with IDEA Part C regulations. In addition, she is the product owner for the Idaho Infant Toddler data system known as ITPKIDS. This data system interfaces with the HiTrack system and also does automated billing of intervention provided by the Idaho Infant Toddler staff and contractors.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -

Nonfinancial -

Erika Blanchard (), Idaho Elks Hearing & Balance Center, St. Luke's Health System, blanchae@slhs.org;
Erika Blanchard manages the audiology program at St. Luke’s with a focus on quality program development and compliance. She specializes in pediatric and adult diagnostics and amplification, and is a pediatric audiology mentor and educator for pediatric audiologists across the country. Erika is the network audiologist with National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management for the Pacific Northwest and an audiology consultant for Idaho Sound Beginnings, Idaho's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program. She earned her bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology with an emphasis in developmental disabilities and teaching English as a second language from the University of Nevada, Reno. She completed her postgraduate studies in audiology at Idaho State University.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

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Nonfinancial -

Susan Jones (), Idaho Elks Hearing and Balance Center, jonessus@slhs.org;
Susie Jones, MS, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT is a licensed speech-language pathologist. She earned her master's degree from Idaho State University and has experience in both pediatric and adult communication disorders. She has extended training in aural rehabilitation and treatment of auditory processing delays, and is a certified listening and spoken language specialist. Susie is a founding member of Idaho Hands and Voices, a member of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, and past board member of Idaho Sound Beginnings.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

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Nonfinancial -

Jill Muir (), Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind, jill.muir@iesdb.org;
Jill Muir, M.Ed. NIC Master, is in her 30th year of working as a Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) Educational Specialist for the Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind. She works with DHH students and their families from birth through high school graduation. She is also a staff mentor and is the state coordinator for Idaho's participation in the National Early Childhood Assessment Project (NECAP). Additionally, she is a certified sign language interpreter at the master level. She holds an AAS in Sign Language Interpreting, BS in Deaf Education and M.Ed in Counseling.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

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Nonfinancial -

Andrea Amestoy (), Idaho Hands and Voices, andrea_corn@yahoo.com;
Andrea Amestoy, R.N., has been a pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit nurse and teaches classes at St. Luke’s. She has worked for the past 12 years at Idaho Sound Beginnings as a parent outreach consultant in which she markets and promotes Idaho Sound Beginnings, gives presentations and contacts parents for follow up. In addtion, Andrea works for Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and Blind with children 0-3 who are blind or visually impaired. She earned her Health Science and Nursing Degrees from Boise State University and is a certified teacher of the blind and visually impaired with a Master's in Special Education from Texas Tech University. She recently completed her orientation and mobility certificate from Texas Tech University in August of 2019. She is the mother of three kids, two of whom have Usher's Syndrome.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

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Nonfinancial -