The “Just in Time” tool [PDF] is designed especially for family organizations to help them in their job to support families. It contains the most essential resources identified by both families and professionals to address hearing-related needs. Family organizations, such as Family Voices, Family-to-Family Health Information Centers, Parent Training and Information Centers, and Parent-to-Parent USA chapters are invited to do the following:

• Post it on your website, allowing the hyperlinks to take the reader directly to critical information.
• Highlight the resource in your next staff meeting or conference call.
• Send it electronically to your local and state partners so they also can use it.
• Have it available as a hard-copy handout to share with families who prefer that format.
• Note the emphasis on resources with information available in other languages.

Link: http://www.infanthearing.org/familysupport/index.html

Functionally deaf patients can gain normal hearing with a new implant that replaces the middle ear. The unique invention from the Chalmers University of Technology has been approved for a clinical study. The first operation was performed on a patient in December 2012.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130114092515.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fhealth_medicine%2Fhearing_loss+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Health+%26+Medicine+News+--+Hearing+Loss%29

Investigators have determined that objective hearing screenings conducted during routine doctor visits are feasible and effective in detecting postnatal hearing loss. Currently, hearing screening is conducted at birth and before a child enters kindergarten leaving a large gap during which hearing loss can develop and remain undetected.  If the initial screening fails to identify a hearing deficit or if hearing loss develops during the infant/toddler years, the child misses a significant period of language and cognitive development as well as sacrificing the opportunity for early intervention. 

Link: http://scvnews.com/2013/01/15/study-shows-efficacy-of-hearing-tests-for-newborns/

The Wyoming team in the Improving Hearing Screening and Intervention Systems (IHSIS) project is using parent visits and letters from children to support families with hearing loss across the vast state.

Link: http://www.nichq.org/resources/IHSIS-Jan2013.html

A.T. STILL University, Arizona’s
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program and the National Center
for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) are partnering to offer an
exciting training opportunity for audiologists. This training will enhance
knowledge and skills in the assessment of hearing loss in infants and provide
strategies to ensure appropriate amplification and intervention for infants and
toddlers with hearing loss. The training combines 6 weeks of online preparation
with a three-day on-site session emphasizing clinical procedures and hands-on
practicum.

The workshop dates will be April 12th, 13th, and 14th 2013 and held at A.T.
Still University’s Arizona Campus in Mesa. For more details and to register
online, please follow this link.
You can also watch and share a promotional video about the conference by
clicking on this link.

Link: http://www.infanthearing.org/resources_home/events/diagnostics_az2013.html

We recently received a letter from Julia Filloon, a Girl Scout in Tallahassee, FL, who produced this short video on raising awareness about noise induced hearing loss in teens. We would like to help Julia with her project by sharing her message with you about this serious issue. Keep up the great work Julia!

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxDmxAaKF0g

The January edition of Probes and Tips is now available: Ringing in a New Year with New Instructional Modules! This edition includes such items as:

• A “sneak preview screening” of new, online hearing screening instructional modules; Please provide feedback on how useful they will be in training/retraining screeners in your specific settings.
• If you have new staff who need to learn about your OAE screening practices, remember to share the following website with them: www.infanthearing.org/earlychildhood and have them view the introductory webinar and training videos.

Link: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs154/1102782899287/archive/1112031700840.html

Link: http://www.infanthearing.org/ti-guide/docs/ijt-partc-use.pdf

This brief is helpful for financing issues related to EHDI and provides a summary of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) March 23, 2012 final rule to implement the ACA provisions relating to Medicaid eligibility, enrollment simplification and coordination. The rule, which is effective Jan. 1, 2014, lays out procedures for states to implement the Medicaid expansion and the streamlined and integrated eligibility and enrollment system created under the ACA. Achieving this goal will require substantial process and system changes among state Medicaid agencies and close coordination between Medicaid, the new health insurance Exchanges and other insurance affordability programs.

Link: http://www.kff.org/medicaid/upload/8391.pdf

More new research shows that the successful integration of hearing-impaired children into hearing classrooms is dependent upon how well the child can speak. Children with hearing loss, their parents, and their teachers can aid successful integration by focusing on speech development.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121217140736.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fhealth_medicine%2Fhearing_loss+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Health+%26+Medicine+News+--+Hearing+Loss%29