LM101 - Addressing Disparities in Hearing Health Care Through Mobile and Tele-Audiology

Abstract:
Disparities in hearing health care are abundant throughout the United States, especially in rural areas. This affects patients of all ages but puts pediatric patients at the greatest disadvantage as a delay in diagnosis creates a snowball effect. When diagnosis is delayed, intervention is delayed, which ultimately puts children with hearing loss at risk for poor academic performance when they are school age. These disparities can be addressed creatively through tele- and mobile audiology. This presentation will outline how hearing health disparities have been addressed for pediatric patients in Georgia and how this approach can be applied in other states.

Summary:
In this presentation, we will 1) Outline the importance of timely diagnosis of hearing loss and early intervention and its impact on language and literacy, 2) Explain how Georgia Mobile Audiology (GMA) has addressed this issue in our state and, 3) Demonstrate how participants can integrate a similar approach where they live.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) children can perform academically on the same level as their typical hearing peers. However, due to the lack of access to hearing health care in rural areas of our country, timely diagnosis and early intervention are often delayed. Research is clear that when children who are D/HH are diagnosed by three months and receive early intervention by six months of age, language and literacy outcomes are vastly improved. In 2020, approximately 94% of babies born in Georgia received a Newborn Hearing Screening (NBHS) before leaving the hospital. However, of those who failed their NBHS, only 22% received a diagnostic hearing evaluation by three months of age. Many of these children have challenges accessing audiological services because they reside in rural areas. 

GMA was created to address this “Diagnostic Dilemma” and “zip code lottery” to ultimately improve language and literacy outcomes for D/HH children. Since its advent, GMA has provided diagnostic hearing evaluations to over 500 children and screenings to over 300, primarily in rural areas that otherwise would not have access to hearing healthcare. GMA’s innovative approach includes a fully functional mobile audiology clinic, tele-audiology services, and a team of audiologists and parent navigators, who guide families through diagnosis, early intervention, and transition points along their D/HH journey. Additionally, GMA partners with local providers, health departments, and EHDI which creates a sustainable model of care after diagnosis.We believe this approach can be applied to other states, and what we have learned can benefit those interested in implementing a similar program.