Parent Perspectives on EHDI and Communication Choices

Katherine Baldwin

2nd Annual National

EHDI Conference

February 26, 2003

Henry’s Newborn Hearing Screening

Born December 1997 in Baltimore

Dad has hearing loss, but no other family history

Referred to audiology and otolaryngology

What was missing?Professional attention and information.

Audiological Assessment and Hearing Aid Fitting

Fitted with bilateral hearing aids by 3 months of age.

Financial assistance really helped.

Keeping them in his ears – quite a challenge!

Missing referral to Part C!

Who dropped the ball?

Audiologist?

Pediatrician?

Otolaryngologist?

Yours truly?

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Shouldn’t we all be working as a team?

Early Intervention Adventures

What happened? Contacted the EI agency

at 6 months. Enrolled in services at 9

months. General special ed. class

was offered. Lesson learned:

families can seek other options!

So how did it turn out?

Home-based services Speech Therapist (weekly). MD School for the Deaf

(weekly).

What was missing?Connecting with other families!

Making progress…

slow, but steady!

Part B: Special Education

Age 3: Self-contained classroom for children with language delay. (Baltimore)

Age 4: Integrated preschool classroom and a 1:1 teacher of the Deaf -- Discovered the FM system (Rochester).

Age 5: Self-contained classroom for Deaf and HoH preschoolers (Denver).

Family-centered early intervention

Colorado Home Intervention Program (CHIP) School for the Deaf and the Blind.

Department of Education.

Integrated with the Colorado EHDI Program.

The family works with a facilitator to design an individualized program that fits both the family’s needs and the child’s learning style.

CHIP Model: Key Characteristics

Provides family-centered services. Encourages and supports family choice in

communication methods. Offers opportunities for families to connect

with other families and Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing adults.

Advances early childhood development research within the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing population.

CHIP Model: Key Components

Family-centered programming

Home speech/language/listening program

Home hearing aid program

Deaf/HoH Connections

FAMILY Assessment

So, what is the take-home message?

1. EHDI programs may not be perfect, but they are great!

2. Linkage between screening, assessment and intervention should be as seamless as possible.

3. Offering families timely, appropriate, and comprehensive information and support at each stage of EHDI is the key to success!

And the future looks bright!And the future looks bright!

For Additional Information

Colorado Home Intervention Program Arlene Stredler-Brown, Director www.csdb.org/outreach/ch_main.html

Research Christine Yoshinaga-Itano, Ph.D, Professor, University of

Colorado, Boulder www.colorado.edu/slhs/slhs/faculty/yoshinaga-itano.html