I gotta admit, my eyes started to sweat. I heard stories, saw the pictures, experienced the emotions of young adults like me having shared the lifestyle of having hearing loss ~ yeah, my eyes were sweating for a solid half hour.
The documentary explored the life experiences of children who received a cochlear implant sound-processing system, and had not received a Newborn Hearing Screening–mandated in the state of New Jersey, since 2002, as part of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention [EDHI] program.
Presented by audiologists Jane Madell & Carolyn Smaka.
Screened at Montclair Film: Cinema505 in Montclair, NJ on September 30th, 2018.
Learn more at:
Notable:
85% of deaf children (those who wear a hearing aid/cochlear implant sound processor) are mainstreamed into schools.
Costs associated with a hearing aid can be covered by Medicaid, although otherwise out-of-pocket investment.
The surgical process with cochlear implants is generally covered by health insurances (confirm specific health insurance plan coverage).
Goals:
Present "The Listening Project" to more health & public policy professionals: educators; legislators; doctors.
Speech-therapy services need to be deemed a medical coverage benefit under all public & private health insurance plans.
Challenges:
Insurer stance: hearing loss considered "educational problem", rather than a medical consultation.
Difference between medical necessity designation with CI's – versus educational disability, designated with hearing aids.
New Jersey State Mandate Provision: Required Hearing Loss Screening. Legislation/Rules & Regulations (NCHAM: National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management):
"Statute: C.26:2-103.3 3. a. The commissioner shall ensure that, effective January 1, 2002, all newborn children in the State shall be screened for hearing loss by an appropriate electro-physiologic screening measure". [Source: Title 26 of the Revised Statutes, Chapter 373]
"Rule: 8:19-1.2, (e) Y Beginning January 1, 2002, all newborns, regardless of the presence or absence of an indicator associated with hearing loss, shall have an electro-physiologic hearing screening done prior to one month of age". [Source: NJ Administrative Code Title 8. Chapter 19].
Post-screening, audience Q&A:
Baha® Implant System by Cochlear™: Bone Conduction implantable hearing device.
Onsite CART service by certified provider Lauren Schechter of TotalCaption.
Community Action:
Hearing Loss Association of America
Hearing Health Foundation
Center for Hearing and Communication (New York) [renamed from "League for the Hard of Hearing"]
CI-support groups in-state
AG Bell Association
References:
"Newborn Screening & Genetic Services" (State of New Jersey, Department of Health) <https://nj.gov/health/fhs/nbs/ehdi/for-audiologists/>
<https://www.infanthearing.org/legislative/provisions/requires.html>
"Mandate Provision: Requires Screening Of | Excerpts from Legislation/Rules & Regulations" (NCHAM: National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management)
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