Evaluating Spoken Language Outcome Monitoring Data Collection in Ontario’s Infant Hearing Program
Abstract
International recommendations suggest that all children with permanent hearing loss enrolled in Early Hearing Detection and Intervention programs should have their language development routinely monitored. This study was a retrospective database review designed to understand the reasons behind a significant absence of spoken language outcome monitoring data in the Ontario Infant Hearing Program’s database. The study aims included evaluating variations in language outcome monitoring implementation, exploring regional differences in procedure adoption, and identifying the reasons why speech-language pathologists were unable to assess eligible children (and any regional variation in these reasons). Results suggested that implementation improved significantly from one year to the next and that there were important regional differences in procedure adoption. Additionally, SLPs primarily cited child factors as the main reason for not assessing certain children. There were no notable regional variations in the reasons reported by SLPs for not completing the procedures.