SOHH Q & A
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Transcript of SOHH Q & A
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?