Project Description:
PROBLEM: Children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) with co-morbidities including autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities (ASD/DD) and their families need culturally and linguistically competent pediatric audiology leaders with skills in inter-professional collaboration to address health disparities and to design & deliver effective, family-centered interventions in coordinated systems of care.
GOAL AND OBJECTIVES: JFK Partners LEND in conjunction with the Marion Downs Center will prepare trainees and fellows (T/Fs) from audiology programs in leadership and specialized clinical skills to improve the health and wellbeing of children who are DHH with/at risk for ASD/DD and their families, over 5 years (2016-21) through objectives: A) Train 16 diverse long-term (L) T/Fs in and at least 10 medium- & 20 short-term (M/STs) in a comprehensive curriculum in leadership, disability concepts, and clinical preparation; and B) Conduct 5 active research investigations to understand and treat children who are DHH with ASD/DD and special needs. C) Train 100 practicing pediatric audiologists and other related professionals about children who are
DHH with ASD/DD.
METHODOLOGY: Sixteen long term AUD students will have more than 300 contact hours in pediatric audiology which will include specialty in children with ASD/DD. They will take core leadership & ASD/DD didactic courses, clinical and other practica and complete research assignments over the year. Ten medium/20 short term trainees will be provided with ASD/DD didactic &/or practicum exposure (40-150 hours). All trainees will be invited to participate in the Frontiers in Hearing conference held every two years with specialized training in ASD/DD. On alternating years, a community workshop/seminar will provide education and resources to trainees and community based professionals. In addition, trainees will participate in grand rounds, multidisciplinary clinic, lectures, parent training sessions, clinic quality improvement projects, and telehealth. Research activities will focus primarily on children who are DHH with ASD/DD and children in Spanish-speaking homes.
COORDINATION: Collaborative relationships specific to children with hearing loss and ASD/DD include: Hands & Voices, Boston Childrens Hospital, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM), the Colorado Home Intervention Program, the Childrens Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado Hospital, the Marion Downs Center, and the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind and the National Early Childhood Assessment Project (NECAP): deaf and hard of hearing.
EVALUATION: The JFK Partners uses a two-part evaluation protocol: Part 1 is an accountability-centric administrative data collection system to address common elements across LEND programs (Performance Measures (PMs) and Program Data, reported in the HRSA Electronic Handbook; Part 2 is the measurable assessment of program-specific objectives. All audiology trainees participate in these processes.
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Single-County, Mulit-County
