Joint Committee on Infant Hearing Publishes 2019 Position Statement
The Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (JEHDI) is pleased to announce the publication of the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing “Year 2019 Position Statement: Principles and Guidelines for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs.” The full statement can be downloaded for free from our website http://jehdi.usu.edu . An executive summary from the statement is excerpted below.
Executive Summary
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) activities beginning at the birth hearing screening and culminating in early intervention, have positively impacted outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families in the United States and world-wide. Universal newborn hearing screening has resulted in significantly lowering the average age of identification. Screening is a necessary first step, but does not ensure the next critical steps of timely identification and diagnosis of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, amplification, and referral to early intervention, all with the goal of promoting language development.
The goal of EHDI is to assure that all infants are identified as early as possible, and appropriate intervention initiated, no later than 3-6 months of age. There is a body of literature which demonstrates that children and families experience optimal outcomes when these benchmarks are met. Additionally, communication and linguistic competence (in spoken language, signed language, or both) are achievable when timelines are met, and when optimal audiologic and early intervention services are accessible. There remain critical areas of improvement within the EHDI system to ensure newborns benefit from early recognition and have access to appropriate supports.
This current 2019 document builds on prior Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) publications (2013 JCIH supplement on Early Intervention and 2007 JCIH Guidelines), updating best practices through literature reviews and expert consensus opinion on screening; identification; and audiological, medical, and educational management of infants and young children and their families.
Webinar on 10/29
The Basics: Five Fundamental Principles to Support Early Development
Presented by: Christina Barris Perigoe
Webinar date: October 29, 2019
Webinar start times (by time zone)
- 12:00 pm (noon) – 1:00 pm PT
- 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm MT
- 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm CT
- 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET
Deaf infants better at following adult’s gaze than their hearing peers
Tip from “Hear to Learn”
It is important for you and other caregivers to know what batteries your child’s hearing aids use, how long the batteries usually last, how to check if the batteries are working, and to understand battery safety. http://www.heartolearn.org/tutorials/tutorial.php?id=9
Enhancing Services for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind Patients in Rural America
Tip from “Hear to Learn”
To help your child learn how to listen and talk you need to fit new routines into your daily life.http://www.heartolearn.org/interactive-tutorials/Developing_New_Routines_Revised_ENGLISH/index.html
A teacher designed glittery hearing aids on dolls to make her deaf students feel represented
Tip from “Hear to Learn”
Understanding common emotions and being able to plan for expected services, can help you plan your schedule, reduce anxiety, and can help you be a part of the process.
September is Newborn Screening Awareness Month
Newborn screening is one of the most successful public health initiatives in the United States. Nearly 4 million babies are born each year in the U.S. Every baby is tested for a list of diseases or conditions, based on each state’s panel of tests. These newborn screening tests enable early identification of conditions – which allows for the earliest possible intervention or treatment.