Cooperative Link: Fall 2006

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Project
South Central Minnesota

Baby, can you hear?

Every year, 1 to 3 in every 1,000 children are born with hearing loss. When a child’s hearing loss is identified soon after birth, families and professionals can make sure the child gets intervention services at an early age. This will help the child to have communication and language skills that will last a lifetime.

Research has shown that it is critical to begin early intervention for infants with hearing loss and their families before six months of age. When intervention begins early, children with hearing loss have the opportunity to achieve age appropriate language and cognitive skills by the time they begin school.

The EHDI Team has an ambitious goal of increasing public awareness regarding the importance of early identification of hearing loss. The team is collaborating with medical service providers, county agencies, school district early intervention teams, educational administrators, and community leaders.

The team presented a breakout session “Meeting Rural EHDI Challenges”, exhibited materials, and described the demographics of the region at the Minnesota Summit on Newborn Hearing Screening in April 2006. During the 2006–2007 school year, the team plans to meet with medical service providers to describe the comprehensive educational services available to newborns with hearing loss and their families. The team will meet and share materials with county nurses, social workers, interagency personnel, Head Start, ECFE, community leaders, and daycare providers.

The EHDI Team shared information with hundreds of visitors who attended their exhibit at the Women’s Show at Midwest Wireless Civic Center on September 30, 2006. Participation in the Women’s Show was an extension of the team’s collaboration with the newborn hearing screening program at Immanuel St. Joseph’s-Mayo Health System.

The EHDI Project would not have been possible without the support of the Interagency Early Intervention Committees, Sertoma Clubs in the region, the Lake Washington Improvement Association, and Elk Lodge #225.

EHDI team members are Ann Vaubel, Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Sandy Bohnenblust, Early Childhood Special Education Birth-3 Teacher, and Dan Kallaus, Audiologist.

> Next Special Education Article: And on This Farm we Had...Fun and Jack McGowan!



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