ERIC Number: EJ966468
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0042-8639
EISSN: N/A
Newborn Hearing Screening: An Analysis of Current Practices
Houston, K. Todd; Bradham, Tamala S.; Munoz, Karen F.; Guignard, Gayla Hutsell
Volta Review, v111 n2 p109-120 Sum 2011
State coordinators of early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) programs completed a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, or SWOT, analysis that consisted of 12 evaluative areas of EHDI programs. For the newborn hearing screening area, a total of 293 items were listed by 49 EHDI coordinators, and themes were identified within each SWOT category. A threats, opportunities, weaknesses, and strengths, or TOWS, analysis yielded 12 recommendations that focused on similar themes. Out of these 12 recommendations, 3 distinct strategies emerged. States are encouraged to: 1) enhance existing screening practices by requiring systematic data collection, reporting, and automation as well as integration of universal newborn hearing screening database systems with other public health initiatives; 2) leverage existing state legislative support to update and expand current universal newborn hearing screening policies and garner increased resources (i.e., personnel and funding); and 3) reduce loss to follow-up by integrating and centralizing data collection and tracking among various agencies and addressing the screening needs of special populations (e.g., home births, non-native English speaking families, religious and cultural minorities). Addressed appropriately, these recommendations can substantially strengthen newborn hearing screening efforts in state EHDI programs. (Contains 6 tables.)
Descriptors: Screening Tests, Public Health, Data Collection, Neonates, Hearing Impairments, Hearing (Physiology), Audiology, State Legislation, Early Intervention, At Risk Persons
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. 3417 Volta Place NW, Washington, DC 20007. Tel: 202-337-5220; Fax: 202-337-8314; e-mail: periodicals@agbell.org; Web site: http://www.agbell.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A