Medical Community

Oral deaf education works for Maine individuals with hearing loss, thanks in part to your role in diagnosis, evaluation and treatment.

“It is so critical for each of us that treat children with hearing loss to understand our roles and the timeliness of our roles.” — Joseph Roberson, M.D., California Ear Institute

The Maine Newborn Hearing Program is responsible to meet national universal newborn hearing screening and intervention (UNHSI) goals. This program is funded by two federal grants, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA)/Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB).

The National 1-3-6 Goals are:

newborns screened for hearing loss by 1 month,
those who do not pass initial screening tested by audiologist by 3 months;
those identified with hearing loss referred to Child Development Services and enrolled in early intervention with providers like hear ME now by 6 months.

“Outcomes for infant and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing: The diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of childhood hearing loss have changed dramatically in recent years. Today, many children who are diagnosed early and treated appropriately by qualified professionals can develop speech and language in step with their hearing peers.” read more>>>

Auditory oral education works. Intensive early education produces outcomes in step with hearing peers:
According to oraldeaf.org, the authors of a 2004 study published in Archives of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery found that after cochlear implantation, speech intelligibility scores were associated with the child’s classroom placement. Higher speech intelligibility scores were associated with educational settings that emphasize oral communication development and interaction with hearing peers.2

In a 2003 study published in The Volta Review, Nittrouer and Burton found that children who were given intensive preschool oral education performed as well as their hearing peers on a wide range of speech perception and language processing tasks. In contrast, children who had been placed in general special education preschools performed poorly —even though their hearing deficits and other factors were similar.3

As a Maine medical professional, you can refer hearing loss patients for hear ME now! support.
Our Hear ME now! Listening and Spoken Language (LSLS) therapists and educators are happy to walk you through our Maine programs and services, and how they complement your medical approach to patients with hearing loss. hear ME now employs the ONLY LSLS therapists and educators in Maine.

Contact us to show you how auditory-oral education is working in Maine.

References
2. Tobey EA, Rekart D, Buckley K, Geers AE. Mode of communication and classroom placement impact on speech intelligibility. Arch Otolaryngology — Head Neck Surg. 2004;130;639-643.
3. Nittrouer S, Burton LT. The role of early language experience in the development of speech perception and language processing abilities in children with hearing loss. The Volta Review, 2003;103;5-38.