Updating Hearing Screening Practices in Early Childhood Settings

Sich day In tin- life of;i young child with an undetected hearing Ids-, is;i day without lull ac-cess to language. When hearing loss goes undetected, the remitting language deficits can become overwhelming obstacles to literacy, educational achievement, socialization, and school readiness Several programs, such a.- Head Stan, Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment, and Pan C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, are responsible for providing hearing screening to many young children nationwide. These programs have typically bad to rely on subjec tive hearing screening methods. Otoacousilc emissions technology, used widely in hospital-based newborn screening programs, is beginning to be recognized as a more practical and effective al ternative when screening children from birth to ^ years of agi-. Successful otoacoustic emissions screening in early childhood settings Is dependent on consultation from an experienced pedlatrk audlologlst, selcctfon ofappropriate equipment, adherence to an appropriate screening and follow-up protocol, ami access to training and follow-up technical assistance. When these elements are prcsi-nt. children with a wide ranj:c of hearing health conditions tan be identified in a timely manner. Key words: deafness, hearing disorders, beating loss, bearing screening, otoaeausttc emissions, sensory screening SEVERAL programs, such as Head Stun, Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment, and Part C of the Individual