March, 2014    
Probes & Tips header
Upcoming Events
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ECHO Initiative
Live Webinars

We will be offering both our Introductory and Intermediate Level webinars this week.  Please click on the links below to register:

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Thursday, March 6th  
12:00 p.m. EST

Plan to join us to 
get acquainted with OAE screening and learn about establishing an effective
hearing screening protocol
for your program

   
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Friday, March 7th
12:00 p.m. EST

Please plan to join us for an opportunity to re-examine effective OAE program practices and to reflect on your own OAE screening experience.

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ECHO Initiative
Links to Recorded Webinars

If you've missed any of our previous webinars, you can now click on the links below to watch a recorded
version of these webinars:

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Look for us at: 
the 2014 EHDI Conference: 
Jacksonville, Florida

Pre-Meeting Session, Sunday, April 13th 
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
 
New to 
OAE Screening? 

If your program is new to OAE screening,  
or if you have added new staff who need  
instruction on OAE 
screening practices,  
visit our 
 where staff can view instructional video  
modules and access the corresponding 
resources. 

Quick Links

 

Find more helpful hints from previous issues of

 Probes and Tips 

and many other
resources at:  

 www.kidshearing.org 


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Join Our Mailing List  

 
Tip of the Month
Support Children Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing  

Whether a child enters an Early Head SBoy with hearing aidtart program with a previously identified hearing loss, or is newly diagnosed as a result of your hearing screening efforts,  you can play a critical role in ensuring that the child, and family, receive the assistance they need.  Here is a simple checklist of questions to ask yourself when serving a child with a  permanent hearing loss:
  • Do I know basic information about children with hearing loss? 
  • Do I know the resources that are available in my area/state for children who are deaf/hard of hearing?
  • Is the child's primary care provider (Medical Home) fully informed about all diagnoses, follow-up and intervention activities?
  • Has the child received appropriate medical specialty evaluations to help determine the cause of the loss and the type of treatment needed? ~(Otolaryngology evaluation to determine the cause of the loss and to identify related medical conditions that may affect treatment;   ~(Ophthalmological evaluation to assess vision;   ~Medical genetics consultation to help determine the cause of the loss and the potential for related conditions.)
  • Have siblings been screened for hearing loss?
  • Is a pediatric audiologist periodically evaluating/monitoring the child's hearing and the adequacy and benefits of amplification? 
  • Has the family been connected with the local Part C/Early Intervention program and the State Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program?
  • Am I aware of what the family is choosing in terms of technology options? (hearing aids, FM systems, cochlear implants, etc.) Do I know how to check whether hearing aids are functioning as they should?  
  • Am I aware of what the family is choosing in terms of communication options? (signing, speaking, cueing, etc.) 
  • Has the family been connected with other families who have children who are deaf/hard of hearing? (www.handsandvoices.org, www.agbell.org, www.deafchildren.org.)
  • Has the family received support from professionals and other families in making educational and early intervention decisions?

Boy with hearing aid closeup As a result of newborn and early childhood screening efforts, more young children than ever before are being diagnosed early with permanent hearing loss.  The next step is making sure they receive the services that will help them to develop along with their hearing peers.  A copy of this checklist, including links to additional resources, is available at www.KidsHearing.org. 

  
Probe of the Month
 
Are you serving a child who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing in your program and need further assistance?
Contact us at:  

 

  echo.ncham@usu.edu    

   

And, as always, share www.KidsHearing.org with anyone you think would benefit from our resources.     

 ECHO - Headstart



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2615 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322

Probes and Tips is a newsletter from the ECHO Initiative that provides monthly TIPS

to enhance early childhood hearing screening and follow-up practices and PROBES

 about current activities so we can learn from one another's successes and challenges.