1. Parent Perspectives on EHDI and Communication Choices Katherine Baldwin 2nd Annual National EHDI Conference February 26, 2003

2. Henrys 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.

3. 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!

4. Missing referral to Part C! Who dropped the ball? Audiologist? Pediatrician? Otolaryngologist? Yours truly?

5. Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Shouldnt we all be working as a team?

6. 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!

7. 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!

8. Making progress… slow, but steady!

9. 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).

10. 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 familys needs and the childs learning style.

11. 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.

12. CHIP Model: Key Components Family-centered programming Home speech/language/listening program Home hearing aid program Deaf/HoH Connections FAMILY Assessment

13. 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!

14. And the future looks bright!

15. 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