Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation of a Preschool Outcome Measure: An Interview Study with Speech-Language Pathologists.

Introduction: The Preschool Speech and Language Program in Ontario, Canada implemented the Focus on the Outcomes of Communication Under Six (FOCUS), an outcome measure, in 2012. This study aimed to investigate commonly experienced facilitators of and barriers to implementing the FOCUS in clinical practice from the perspectives of speech-language pathologists (SLPs).

Methods: Thirty-seven SLPs participated in semi-structured interviews to share their experiences adopting the FOCUS in clinical practice.

Predictors of cognitive fatigue and fatigability in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) commonly experience cognitive fatigue (CF), defined as a decrease in cognitive performance with sustained activity, yet CF remains understudied. Further, the relationship between subjective CF and objective CF, or cognitive fatiguability, has not been fully elucidated in previous studies. Understanding the predictors of cognitive fatigue may scaffold the development of interventions that target this symptom.

Relevance of the International Classification of Functioning, Health and Disability: Children & Youth Version in Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs.

Early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) programs have been guided by principles from the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing and an international consensus of best practice principles for family-centered early intervention. Both resources provide a solid foundation from which to design, implement, and sustain a high-quality, family-centered EHDI program. As a result, infants born with permanent hearing loss and their families will have the support they need to develop communication skills.

Revised Conceptual Framework of Parent-to-Parent Support for Parents of Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: A Modified Delphi Study.

Background: A scoping review of the literature was conducted, resulting in the development of a conceptual framework of parent-to-parent support for parents with children who are Deaf or hard of hearing. This is the 2nd stage of a dual-stage scoping review.

Purpose: This study sought stakeholder opinion and feedback with an aim to achieve consensus on the constructs, components, and design of the initial conceptual framework.

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

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.

An integrated knowledge translation experience: use of the Network of Pediatric Audiologists of Canada to facilitate the development of the University of Western Ontario Pediatric Audiological Monitoring Protocol (UWO PedAMP v1.0).

Pediatric audiologists lack evidence-based, age-appropriate outcome evaluation tools with well-developed normative data that could be used to evaluate the auditory development and performance of children aged birth to 6 years with permanent childhood hearing impairment. Bagatto and colleagues recommend a battery of outcome tools that may be used with this population. This article provides results of an evaluation of the individual components of the University of Western Ontario Pediatric Audiological Monitoring Protocol (UWO PedAMP) version 1.

Knowledge translation in audiology: promoting the clinical application of best evidence.

The impetus for evidence-based practice (EBP) has grown out of widespread concern with the quality, effectiveness (including cost-effectiveness), and efficiency of medical care received by the public. Although initially focused on medicine, EBP principles have been adopted by many of the health care professions and are often represented in practice through the development and use of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Audiology has been working on incorporating EBP principles into its mandate for professional practice since the mid-1990s.

A critical review of audiological outcome measures for infants and children.

Outcome evaluation is an important stage in the pediatric hearing aid fitting process, however a systematic way of evaluating outcome in the pediatric audiology population is lacking. This is in part due to the need for an evidence-based outcome evaluation guideline for infants and children with hearing loss who wear hearing aids. As part of the development of a guideline, a critical review of the existing pediatric audiology outcome evaluation tools was conducted.

External validation of the LittlEARS® Auditory Questionnaire with English-speaking families of Canadian children with normal hearing.

Objective: To examine the external validity of the United Kingdom English version of the LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire with English-speaking families of Canadian children with normal hearing.

Methods: The United Kingdom English version of the LittlEARS was administered to English-speaking families of 130 children with normal hearing in Ontario, Canada. Total scores for these children were compared to German-derived normative values.