Ida Presents Transitions Management at BAA

By Amanda Farah Cox

Ida Institute Senior Audiologist Melanie Gregory presented the workshop “Supporting the Management of Transitions for Families and Children with Hearing Loss” at last week’s British Academy of Audiology conference in Harrogate, UK.

The presentation introduced the audience to the transitions children and young adults go through at different ages and self-determination theory. It also explored the needs and challenges of children with hearing loss, their families, and hearing care professionals. Melanie brought in the child’s perspective by showing the ethnographic film, “I Brought It to the Kitchen Table” about Kathleen, her family, and her difficulties growing up with hearing loss.

Melanie shared the beginnings of the framework designed by the Ida Transitions Management group, which looks at the various environments where young people will experience changes that can affect their emotional well-being. These include intellectual, social, physical, and financial areas.

She also shared where existing resources for transitions management can be found, such as the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Adolescent Health Transition Project, the National Deaf Children’s Society, and the National Children’s Bureau.

The workshop ended with a My Ida Moment, where attendees were asked to reflect on how the information from the presentation will affect how they handle transitions in their clinics. They were sent off with the take-away that successful transitions lead to emotionally healthy, resilient young people.

We look forward to sharing the framework from the Ida Transitions Management group in 2016.