Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

2025

Faculty Mentor

Kelly McGloon

Abstract

Children with hearing impairments are at risk for developmental delay, and research has shown that children born with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) are at a higher risk for delays in motor, sensory, and social skills development. The literature points to an obvious impact of hearing loss on development, but also a lack of screening for this phenomenon beyond language development skills. A doctoral capstone project was conducted to pilot a process for the implementation of developmental screening for children with hearing aids (HAs), as well as subsequent therapy referrals and parent education, in collaboration with a hospital-based pediatric audiology department. The goals of the project included gaining an understanding of how the audiology department functions, identifying best practices for children with hearing impairments, and establishing effective interprofessional collaboration. This multi-faceted project consisted of screening and subsequent therapy referrals for 30 children with hearing aids, development of documentation strategies for audiologists, and the creation of resources and education for audiologists on scoring, interpreting results, and establishing proper referral criteria. Caregivers completed the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) and Sensory Profile Two (SP2), two well-established developmental questionnaires that assess developmental milestones. Children were then referred to Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), or Developmental Pediatrics. Of the 30 children screened, all had bilateral or unilateral hearing aid devices due to SNHL, conductive hearing loss, or mixed hearing loss.Results indicated that out of the 30 children who received the ASQ/SP2, 14 (46.6%) qualified for at least one referral to services. The majority of referrals were made to OT (71.4%). Overall, qualitative data demonstrated perceived confidence in the screening process by pediatric audiologists, with 100% of survey participants reporting they “Strongly Agree or Agree” with feeling confident in administering developmental screeners in their clinical practice. In addition, 100% of participants reported they “Strongly Agree” that it is important and clinically relevant to administer developmental screeners to children with hearing impairments.This project has the potential to impact the future of Occupational Therapy and Audiology through increased interprofessional collaboration, ultimately resulting in improved quality of care. Furthermore, the overall impact of this project aims to recognize potential developmental delays earlier, leading to timely intervention that positively affects quality of life and improves overall outcomes for children with hearing loss.

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