This document discusses the process of evaluating, diagnosing, and providing early intervention services to infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing. Key aspects of the process include newborn hearing screening, using tests like ABR to diagnose hearing levels, developing an intervention plan, choosing communication modes and assistive technology like hearing aids or cochlear implants, providing services from professionals like audiologists and speech therapists, and creating individualized goals for development of skills like sound detection, speech, and language. The early intervention team works with the family to help the child progress in their communication and developmental abilities from birth to age 3.

1. Infants and Toddlers

2. The Process

3. EvaluationDetectionNewborn hearing screening programsDiagnosisTone-specific ABRBehavioral observationVisual reinforcement

4. PreparationCounselingPresenting diagnosis of hearing lossAR PlanIndividualized Family Service Plan

5. ImplementationCommunication ModeWho will train parents?Assistive TechnologyHearing AidsCochlear ImplantsUse and Maintenance

6. ImplementationConsistent Device UseAsk parents should track useExplore why device may not be used as much as recommendedChild compliance?Parent denial?Modeling good communicationListening goalsSound detectionMay need to link with visual stimulus then withdraw visual supportSound discriminationLarge contrasts (“hop hophop” vs. “Aaaaaaah”)Speech goalsBabble productionOne to two word utterances

7. ImplementationEarly Intervention

8. Early Intervention TeamParentsPediatricianAudiologistSpeech-Language PathologistDevelopmental Therapist – HearingDeaf Mentor

9. Early Intervention – Birth to 3Developmental Therapist - Hearing4-year degree in Deaf EducationBill under Aural RehabEducate parents onHearing lossHearing aidsLanguage developmentCommunication optionsDeaf mentorTrained & certified through Early InterventionBill under Family Training/IFSPEducate parents onLiving with hearing lossModeling languageMeeting other DHH community members

10. Early Intervention Reimbursement Rates

11. Components of IFSPDescribe the child and family's strengths and challenges and the family's priorities, resources and concerns. Summarize the child's health status, including his/her hearing and vision status. Enter the child's percent of delay as reported or verified by the child's evaluator. Also, describe the child's current level of functioning in each developmental domain. This description should convey to the family and other IFSP team members meaningful information about the area of development.Discuss the child's current functional status with the IFSP team. Use the three Child Outcomes to focus the discussion on the child's functioning during everyday routines and activities. The following decision tree may be used to assist the team in reaching consensus regarding the child's present level of functioning related to each of the three Child Outcomes.

12. 1Increased oral/auditory communicationBuddyBuddy will participate in daily activities, including responding to simple commands, turn-taking during play activities, and expressing his basic needs (hunger, bathroom, etc.).Aural rehabLanguage therapyDT-H services

13. Possible areas of focusAuditionSpeechLanguageCognitionCommunicationPerceptualArticulationVocabularyTheory of MindTurn-taking