Best Practices
The purpose of the Iowa EHDI Best Practices Manual is to advance the development of a comprehensive statewide EHDI system in Iowa. The manual is a guide to assist hospitals, birth centers, Area Education Agencies (AEAs), health care providers and private practice audiologists in developing programs and written protocols for newborn hearing screening, follow up and intervention. Setting best practice standards will ensure that we are working efficiently as possible collectively as a state to advocate for Iowa children.
- Your guide to best practices
- Consult this manual when implementing hearing screening programs into your practice.
- Joint Committee on Infant Hearing Screening - JCIH is composed of representatives from audiology, otolaryngology, pediatrics, and nursing. The Committee is charged with making recommendations concerning the early identification of children with, or at-risk for hearing loss and newborn hearing screening. The state EHDI programs use their recommendations as guidelines for best practices.
- Parent Messaging about Results One-Pager - How you talk to parents about the results of the newborn hearing screening matters. Avoid using confusing or diluted messages that dilute the importance of the newborn hearing screening and follow up. This one-pager provides clear, simple language to encourage consistent messaging to parents across the state regarding their child's newborn hearing screening results.
- Communication Guide for Newborn Hearing Screen Results (Being Updated. Check back for updates.) - How do you talk to parents about the importance and significance of their baby’s hearing screening? This document will guide you through an effective, in-depth strategy for communicating with parents throughout the screening process.
- Hearing loss checklist - Use this to make sure that you are making all the appropriate referrals when a child has a hearing loss.
- Tips for a Successful Screening - Includes tips for a successful screening and recommendations for how to talk to parents.
- Self-Rating Best Practices Rubric for Birth Facilities - Outlines requirements for best practices for birthing facilities. This self-rating tool will aid you in identifying areas of strength and areas to improve.
- Hearing Follow-Up Flowchart - Includes a diagram that represent the 1-3-6 process. The flowchart shows the steps to be taken after the newborn hearing screen. The flowchart also includes a list of pediatric diagnostic providers on the backside of the flowchart. These providers are able to perform diagnostic testing for babies who do not pass their newborn or outpatient hearing screens.
Protocols
At each stage of the process, there are certain policies that should be followed. Consult the documents below to learn about these different protocols.
Research and Best Practices Articles
Stay up-to-date with current research on hearing screening, devices and treatment.
