Title

The University of Western Ontario Pediatric Audiological Monitoring Protocol (UWO PedAMP)

Authors

Marlene P. Bagatto, National Centre for Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. bagatto@nca.uwo.caFollow
Sheila T. MoodieFollow
April C. MalandrinoFollow
Frances M. Richert
Debbie A. Clench
Susan D. ScollieFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-24-2011

Journal

Trends in amplification

Volume

15

Issue

1

First Page

57

Last Page

76

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1177/1084713811420304

Abstract

This study proposed and evaluated a guideline for outcome evaluation for infants and children with hearing loss who wear hearing aids. The University of Western Ontario Pediatric Audiological Monitoring Protocol (UWO PedAMP) was developed following a critical review of pediatric outcome evaluation tools and was systematically examined by the Network of Pediatric Audiologists of Canada. It consists of tools to gather clinical process outcomes as well as functional caregiver reports. The UWO PedAMP was administered to a clinical population of infants and children with hearing aids. Sixty-eight children were administered the functional outcome evaluation tools (i.e., caregiver reports) a total of 133 times. Clinical process outcomes of hearing aid verification (e.g., real-ear-to-coupler difference) revealed typical aided audibility (e.g., Speech Intelligibility Index). Results for the LittlEARS(®) questionnaire revealed that typically developing children with hearing loss who wear hearing aids are meeting auditory development milestones. Children with mild to moderate comorbidities displayed typical auditory development during the 1st year of life after which development began to decline. Children with complex factors related to hearing aid use had lower scores on the LittlEARS, but auditory development was in parallel to norms. Parents' Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance (PEACH) results indicated no age effect on scoring for children above 2 years of age; however, the effect of degree of hearing loss was significant. This work provides clinicians with a systematic, evidence-based outcome evaluation protocol to implement as part of a complete pediatric hearing aid fitting.

Citation of this paper:

Bagatto MP, Moodie ST, Malandrino AC, Richert FM, Clench DA, Scollie SD. The University of Western Ontario Pediatric Audiological Monitoring Protocol (UWO PedAMP). Trends in Amplification. 2011;15(1):57-76. doi:10.1177/1084713811420304