Dr. Angela BoninoPresenter: Dr. Angela Yarnell Bonino, University of Colorado Boulder

When: Friday, March 26, 2021
Time: 12:00 - 1:30 pm

Previous studies have identified greater than expected rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among children with reduced hearing. Utilizing a large, publicly available online database (Audiological and Genetic Database; AudGenDB) containing audiological and medical health record data for patients receiving audiological care at three large medical centers in the United States, this study built upon previous studies exploring the prevalence of ASD among children with hearing loss and provided detailed analyses of population characteristics. Four distinct groups were compared: 1) children with permanent hearing loss with ASD; 2) children with permanent hearing loss without ASD; 3) children seen in pediatric audiology clinics with neither ASD nor hearing loss; 4) children with ASD with hearing within typical limits. Comparison within the same pediatric population reveals diagnostic complexity and concerns for disparities in audiological management of hearing loss among children with ASD. Findings have important implications for improving clinical care for children with ASD.

Dr. Angela Yarnell Bonino is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. She completed her clinical training in audiology at Vanderbilt University, and her Ph.D. and postdoctoral training at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the American Academy of Audiology Foundation, and the Hearing Health Foundation.