I’m going to quote Jonathan Huie who said, “Celebrate endings – for they precede new beginnings.” This resonates for me as I celebrate the conclusion of four years as your Colorado EHDI Director. This four-year grant ends on March 31, 2024; and change is in the air as a new COEHDI Coordinator will come on board.
Our accomplishments have been many. Yet, needs still exist. It’s good to be able to say that the needs are different than they were four years ago. I’ll recap, briefly, the many accomplishments to date; and I will highlight the potential for change that remains (as always).
In the world of newborn hearing screening, after a lull of several years, CDPHE reported EHDI data to the CDC for each of the four grant years. We’ve conducted virtual site visits with 35 hospitals in our state. We now have donated OAE equipment in the hands of midwives. We have a NBHS brochure. We are close to finalizing a new brochure specific to babies who have experienced NICU stays. What might be on the horizon? I still aim to see PCPs having ready access to HIDS. And we are close to sending a gift to all NBHS programs – this “gift” is a series of scripts for screeners that reflect Colorado’s needs in the screening arena.
When it comes to identification (aka; clinical diagnostics), we can boast about the number of pediatric audiologists in Colorado. Some have the American Academy of Audiology specialty certification; many more are well trained, and experienced, working with very young children. One need, that has not yet been fulfilled, is to make this expertise available to families in rural areas. To this end, I am hoping that tele-audiology may be on the horizon. Additionally, our efforts to inform and engage parents of children with a hearing difference in only one ear have been focusing on the influence clinical audiologists may have with families.
Early intervention (EI) is a long-time strength in Colorado’s system. Our EI system dates to 1969! Going forward, our federal funder is requiring all states to review language and developmental outcome data of the children we serve. I’m happy to say that we are well ahead of what is required. Through ongoing collaboration with colleagues in the Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences Department at CU-Boulder, there is potential to identify underserved and/or underperforming children. Once health disparities are identified, work can focus on ways to enhance programming to address specific disparities. Stay tuned. Also on the horizon is the creation of one resource guide for families. Many agencies are blending their current offerings. This will be a huge accomplishment when it is done.
At the end of this month, I will start to watch, from the sidelines, the work that started four years ago. The work I will continue to do will undoubtedly afford me opportunities to be in touch with many of you. As I celebrate this ending, I will look forward to pursuing new beginnings with you.
~ Arlene Stredler-Brown, PhD, CCC-SLP, director of COEHDI
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