Naviga&ng

EHDI* Across the Pacic Islands

Jean Johnson, DrPH Jean Anderson-Asuega, PsyD

AUCD Conference Washington, DC December 2012

* EHDI=Early Hearing Detec2on and Interven2on

CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) - 2002 Screens: 98% of births Diagnos2cs: Resident pediatric audiologist Services: Part H (Part H program)

Guam - 2002 Screens: 99% of births Diagnos2cs: Teleaudiology (University of Denver) Services: Part H (UCEDD - CEDDERS)

Republic of the Marshall Islands 2010 Screens: 90% of births Diagnos2cs: Contract audiologists Services: No Part C (Ministry of Health UH-CDS)

EHDI Goals Screened by 1 month Diagnosed by 3 months Services by 6 months

Hawai`i -1988 Screens: 99% of births Na2ons rst mandate Site of EHDI research studies

Republic of Palau - 2006 Screens: 96% of births Diagnos2cs: Tripler AMC Services: No Part H (Ministry of Health)

FSM (Federated States of Micronesia) 2009 Screens: 92% of births Diagnos2cs: NCHAM Audiologist Services: No Part H (Ministry of Health)

American Smoa 2009 Screens: 98% of births Diagnos2cs: Contract audiologists Services: Part H (Department of Health UH CDS)

Challenges Lack of professional personnel Li=le family-to-family support Rural, isolated island popula2ons Limited early interven2on services Op2ons for amplica2on Successes Dedicated screening personnel Caring families Expansion of professional resources Strong public rela2ons Development of strong data systems

Apprecia(on is expressed by the islanders to the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administra(on and to the Na(onal Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabili(es of the Centers for Disease Control. Without their concern for the children of the islands and their nancial support, none of this could have been accomplished!