NCHAM serves as the National Resource Center for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention. Since 2001, NCHAM has been funded by the Office of Head Start to assist Early Head Start, Migrant/Seasonal Head Start and American Indian/Alaska Native Head Start programs in updating their hearing screening practices for children 0 - 3 years of age through the use of Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) screening technology. Participating programs found that with training and proper technical assistance their staff could successfully implement OAE screening practices and identify children in need of treatment. Working with local health care providers and audiologists, children with a range of hearing disorders, including permanent hearing loss, have been identified and helped. (See initial report of outcomes [PDF])

NCHAM has been assisting Head Start programs by:  1) establishing state-wide Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO) Training and Technical Assistance Teams that provide training and technical assistance to programs and  2) developing resources that support Head Start programs in participating  independently, garnering their own training and technical support from local audiologists and other experts. (View video clips of Parent, Physician, ECHO Team and Head Start Participant Reflections on Periodic Hearing Screening.)

State-Level Participation

State-based ECHO Teams are being established in conjunction with state Early Hearing and Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Public Health Programs and/or other key stakeholders who are committed to early childhood hearing health. ECHO Teams have successfully trained more than 100 Early and Migrant Head Start programs to implement OAE screening and follow-up programs. These ECHO training teams are composed of approximately 5 individuals, at least one of whom is a pediatric audiologist. Contact information for ECHO Teams in each currently participating state is available here:

Participating States receive:

• Assistance in establishing Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO) Teams.
• Resources to conduct initial training workshops and support in establishing an ongoing training and technical assistance system for Head Start programs.
  
  

Participating Head Start programs receive:

• Comprehensive hands-on training and ongoing technical assistance.
• Assistance in obtaining OAE hearing screening equipment.
• Resources for documenting screening, tracking, and follow-up activities.
  
  

Participating Head Start programs agree to:

• Attend training.
• Utilize OAE technology and a recommended protocol as the primary screening method for children 0 - 3.
• Provide information about screening and follow-up for all children on a regular basis.
  
  

Individual Head Start Program Participation

Head Start programs in states that have not yet established ECHO teams should develop a working relationship with a pediatric audiologist who can help with planning, training, and providing technical assistance in implementing an OAE screening and follow-up program. The Office of Head Start has provided all Early Head Start and Migrant/Seasonal Head Start programs with information about OAE screening developed by NCHAM, also available here (Instructional Guide [PDF: 8 MB]). Consider convening a meeting of your Health Services Advisory Committee to review these materials and to discuss steps your program can take to adopt OAE hearing screening with the help of a pediatric audiologist. Review the information under "Getting Started" for specific resources to help you update your hearing screening practices.