March, 2016

ECHO Initiative

Events

New Live Webinars:

* * * * * * * * * *

Improving OAE Hearing Screening and Follow-up Practices for Children
Birth to Three Years of Age

March 29, 2016

* * * * * * * * * *

Improving Evidence-based Hearing Screening Practices for Children 3 to 5 years of age in Head Start Programs

April 19, 2016

====================

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:

Mini Coffee Break Webinar:Introduction to Evidence-Based Hearing Screening Practices for Children 0-3 Years of Age

* * * * * * * * * *

Introduction to OAE
Hearing Screening

* * * * * * * * * *

Improving OAE

Screening and Follow-up: Intermediate Level Webinar

* * * * * * * * * *

Improving Hearing
Screening Practices for Children Birth to Five

* * * * * * * * * *

Understanding Hearing
Loss in Young Children

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

Get Started and

Implement page

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

Picture Yourself
as a Successful Screener!

The ECHO Initiative Staff and screeners from CA, OR, IN and UT recently shared a day devoted to improving Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) hearing screening skills.

We all want to give a whole-hearted "shout out" to our generous UT host site, the Davis/Morgan/Summit Head Start and Early Head Start Programs.

During the February 17th training day, participants reviewed information on why hearing screening is so vital for young children and how OAE screening technology can help to identify children who are in need of audiological assessment and assistance.

After learning the basics about the technology, participants were ready for some lively "hands on" practice! We always recommend that new screeners start by learning to screen their own ears and then practice on a few other adults until they feel confident with

their ability to insert the probe and run the equipment. As a part of that practice, screeners are encouraged to experiment with how internal/external noise can interfere with the screening and to how to achieve the best probe fit
to maximize success.

Participants

were then ready to test their screening and child management skills in "real life" screening situations. That's always the most challenging
(but fun) part!!

Equally important, screeners also practiced documenting the results and learned how to implement a follow-up protocol for children who do not pass. Although we are always happy when children pass their hearing screen, we remember that our efforts are only successful if we follow, and help, those who need it.

If your program's screeners need to improve their hearing screening skills, our training materials are all on line. The instructional video modules, exercises, and accompanying tools are laid out in an easy-to-follow format that is available, free of charge, to everyone.

Has your program used our online
screener training resources ?

Let us know at:

echo.ncham@usu.edu

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

ECHO - Headstart

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.