Audiologists and speech-language pathologists who serve children with hearing loss monitor communication outcomes but also face considerable challenges in determining the right outcomes to use and when to modify intervention. Many clinical outcomes are either time-consuming or do not provide useful information for parents or clinicians. A clinical protocol for outcomes validation in children with hearing loss will be discussed with an emphasis on outcomes that are practical, efficient, and actionable. Case examples of red flags will be used to help identify situations where children who use hearing aids may be at risk for persistent development delays and identify solutions.
Learning Objectives:
Identify red flags for audibility and hearing aid use for children who use hearing aids.
Implement an evidence-based protocol for aided speech recognition for children with hearing loss.
Use auditory development questionnaires to monitor development in infants and young children with hearing loss.