An 18-month-old girl of a young mother was enrolled in our EHS program.  Although no developmental concerns were documented at intake, the classroom teachers soon noted that the child's language and ability to follow directions seemed delayed.  Conversation with the state Newborn Hearing Screening program coordinator revealed that this child had not passed the newborn screening and had subsequently been lost to follow-up.   Although a review of the child's medical record did not reflect a problem (the doctor having recorded hearing as "normal", possibly based in parent report) the need for immediate action was evident when the child did not pass our otoacoustic emissions (OAE) hearing screening or the rescreen conducted a week later.    

With our help, referral to Early Intervention and to a local audiologist was completed and based on the audiologist's finding, further referral to a hospital 75 miles away to have an ABR test was required. We again worked with the mom around transportation issues and the importance of completing this appointment.  The testing confirmed that this child had a moderate, bilateral hearing loss.  

The local Early Intervention program was able to come into the EHS classroom to do the evaluation. A service coordination meeting was held to support the family around the testing results.  A local hearing consultant was also called in to support the family and caregivers. It was decided that this child would be best placed at a local preschool program housed at a center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing where she could be with peers to learn sign language as well as receive speech and language therapy.  

In this example, we see how an EHS program played a critical role in the life of a child and family.   The state's Newborn Hearing Screening program (also known as the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention [EHDI] program) had been unable to follow up on the newborn screening results because the family had relocated. The child's doctor was unable to detect the hearing loss because no objective hearing screening was administered.  Thus, the commitment of the EHS program to providing OAE hearing screening and prompt follow-up, their relationship with their State EHDI program, as well as their relationship with a local audiologist and the Early Intervention program in the community, made all the difference in getting a child the services that will potentially change her life.   

In the coming year, the ECHO Initiative remains committed to doing all that we can to support the  important work that you do!