Webinar: Introduction to Evidence-based Hearing Screening Practices for Children Age 0-5
When: February 27th, 2024 | 12:00 pm MDT – 1:30 pm MDT
Description:
Each day, children with hearing loss attend early childhood programs. It's important for staff to learn how to identify these children so they can receive the supports and services they need. Join us for a webinar on improving the quality of hearing screening and evaluation practices for children ages birth to 5. Learn about useful facts and access practical tools to support the development and sustainability of high-quality hearing screening and follow-up methods in Head Start, Early Head Start and other early care and education program settings.
Topics for this introductory webinar include:
- How determining the status of children’s hearing ability relates to the overall goals of early childhood programs like Head Start, Part C early intervention, Part B-619 and other early care and education services.
- Current evidence-based practice recommendations for conducting hearing screening with children ages birth to 5
- An overview of two screening methods and available resources to support implementation:
- Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) screening and evaluation method for all children
- Pure Tone Audiometry Screening method for children 3 to 5 years of age or older
- Recommended follow-up protocol for when children do not pass the hearing screening
- Information about equipment options and costs
- How to find a local audiologist to assist in program development, training, and diagnostic services
- Other implementation resources and opportunities for training and technical assistance
Target Audience:
This webinar benefits individuals and programs serving children between birth and 5 years of age, including:
- Head Start, Early Head Start, Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, and American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start programs
- Part C early intervention programs
- Part B-619 programs
- Home visiting programs
- Preschool staff
- Health care providers
Presenters:
William Eiserman, Ph.D. is the Associate Director of the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management at Utah State University and is co-director of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention - National Technical Resource Center. Dr. Eiserman has over 25 years of experience developing and leading the Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO) Initiative which focuses on implementing evidence-based hearing screening and follow-up practices for young children with a primary focus on Early Head Start and Head Start and other community-based settings. Along with his ECHO Initiative colleagues, Dr. Eiserman has provided training and technical assistance to thousands of programs across the country and in international settings which have demonstrated the efficacy of early identification of hearing loss in pediatric populations.
Terry Foust, AuD, CCC-A/SLP is a pediatric audiologist and speech language pathologist who has been a key member of the ECHO Initiative team since its beginnings in 2001. Dr. Foust has provided intensive training and technical assistance to staff in early childhood programs in nearly every state, including Head Start, early intervention programs and community health centers. Dr. Foust has also provided technical assistance in a variety of international settings including in India, Ghana, Georgia and Kenya.
NOTE: If you already have experience implementing evidence-based hearing screening, please join us for the Intermediate Hearing Screening Webinar on February 21 during which you will have an opportunity to address questions and concerns that have arisen from your experience.
