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Is Early Intervention Necessary for All?. Ruth Fox, RN, MS, New Hampshire EHDI Program Coordinator Mary Jane Sullivan, Au D, New Hampshire EHDI Consulting Audiologist Janet Halley, OTR/L, Director, MICE Program. Who are we?.
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Is Early Intervention Necessary for All? Ruth Fox, RN, MS, New Hampshire EHDI Program Coordinator Mary Jane Sullivan, Au D, New Hampshire EHDI Consulting Audiologist Janet Halley, OTR/L, Director, MICE Program
Who are we? • New Hampshire has approximately 14,000 births/year • 23 Birthing Hospitals • 42 infants with hearing loss identified in 2006
EHDI in New Hampshire • All birth hospitals are screening without a legislative mandate • Administrative rules require hospital reporting • Diagnostic Audiology Centers located throughout the state for infant follow-up
Life before EHDI (Pre 2000) • Services for ages 0-3 with suspected or confirmed visual or hearing deficit through: • Multi-Sensory Intervention through Consultation & Education (MICE) Program • Automatic referral to NH Early Supports and Services for intake and developmental services • Few referrals due to limited screening
Impact of EHDI • Increase in referrals of younger children • 22 infants and toddlers enrolled in 2004 • 35 infants and toddlers enrolled in 2005* • 36 infants and toddlers enrolled in 2006* * Increase due to referrals from newborn hearing screening
Impact of EHDI (cont.) • Referrals included diagnoses not previously identified in this age group • Parental resistance to early supports & services enrollment process • M.I.C.E. resources limited
The Big Questions • Did all infants with any degree of hearing loss need direct intervention services? • If not, who would be offered monitoring and who would be offered more intensive direct services?
The Research • The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing recommends enrollment in interdisciplinary family-centered intervention before 6 months of age. Literature on impact of minimal hearing loss unilateral or bilateral focused on educational performance. See review of articles at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/ ehdi/unilateralhi.htm#summaries
The Plan • Monitoring versus Direct Service • Monitoring indicated when: • No other known medical conditions • Mild unilateral sensorineural loss • Mild bilateral or unilateral potentially treatable conductive loss • Infants with suspected but not yet defined hearing loss • Monitoring request indicated on audiologists report
Monitoring Services • Initial phone contact with family • One home visit and/or monthly phone consult with family • Information packet given to family • Audiological services as recommended
Direct Services • Phone contact with M.I.C.E. staff • Scheduled home visits by M.I.C.E. staff • Contact with a parent advocate (about to be established position at M.I.C.E.)
Reasons to Transition • Families may transition from Monitoring Services to Direct Services when there is: • Parental request • Change in audiological/medical status • Diagnosis of potentially compounding condition (s) • Physician request
Benefits • Families more receptive to monitoring services • Allows more time/ resources for infants and toddlers with more significant needs • System allows for flexibility • Will make modifications based on the results of an upcoming parent survey