SOHH Q A Audiology NOW 2013 Anaheim California
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SOHH Q & A Audiology. NOW! 2013 Anaheim, California Jodi Seligman University of Texas at Dallas SAA Humanitarian Committee Chair
Why? A striking number of individuals with intellectual disabilities have hearing loss • Undetected • Underserved • Under-treated Hearing loss among Special Olympics athletes is four times greater than in the general population • Conductive, mixed, & sensorineural hearing loss • Cerumen management
History The Special Olympics Healthy Hearing (SOHH) Program was founded in 1999 by Dr. Gilbert R. Herer, Ph. D. , professor at George Washington University, Washington, D. C. • Modeled after a universal newborn hearing screening program established by Dr. Herer in 1996 • Delivery of audiology services in the public health model: • Screen, identify, refer
SOHH Screenings Otoscopy Otoacoustic emissions Tympanometry Pure tone screenings Threshold testing (if available)
Clinical Directors (CDs) Plan, organize, and implement SOHH events for their state Train volunteers Order equipment from SO in Washington D. C.
Focus on Follow-Up HH 2. 0 • Identify hearing loss: audiological evaluations and medical referrals • Candidate for amplification: fit with hearing aids • Comprehensive follow-up care: validation and verification
Focus on Follow-Up How can SAA contribute? • Participate in your local SOHH events • Find Clinical Directors (CD’s) • Find Phonak providers • Hear the World Foundation
Clinical Directors Global Clinical Advisors • Beth Lannon, Ph. D. (United States) • Melina Willems (Belgium) Regional Coordinators State Clinical Director A job description • *See handout
Network of Providers Special Olympics has an agreement with Phonak’s Hear the World Foundation Phonak will provide vouchers to athletes identified with hearing loss SAA can develop a provider network with our clinical contacts! *See handout
Progress Over 40 SAA chapters are involved or working to get involved in the SOHH Program • At least 8 are involved in Healthy Hearing 2. 0 • The 2012 -2013 Humanitarian Committee has been working to strengthen follow-up, but we need everyone’s help! • SAA members, AAA members
2013 World Winter Games Andrea Fowler, SAA President, and Jodi Seligman, SAA Humanitarian Committee Chair, traveled to Pyeong Chang and Gangneung, South Korea to provide hearing health care to Special Olympics athletes. SAA received a Special Friend Award from Special Olympics at the Healthy Athletes reception.
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