SOHH Q & A

Jodi Seligman

University of Texas at Dallas

SAA Humanitarian Committee Chair

AudiologyNOW! 2013Anaheim, California

Why?

• Undetected• Underserved• Under-treated

A striking number of individuals with

intellectual disabilities have

hearing loss

• Conductive, mixed, & sensorineural hearing loss

• Cerumen management

Hearing loss among Special Olympics

athletes is four times greater than in the general population

History

• 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

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.

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

• Identify hearing loss: audiological evaluations and medical referrals

• Candidate for amplification: fit with hearing aids

• Comprehensive follow-up care: validation and verification

HH 2.0

Focus on Follow-Up

• Participate in your local SOHH events

• Find Clinical Directors (CD’s)

• Find Phonak providers• Hear the World Foundation

How can SAA

contribute?

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.

Comments, Ideas, Questions?