Loyola Speech-Language Hearing Sciences faculty, Lena Caesar, Ed.D., Ph.D., CCC-SLP, and Donna Pitts, Au.D., CCC-Aud., traveled to Belize to lead a ASHA-PAHO training workshop to instruct staff and teachers in the detection of the early signs and stages of hearing loss and autism. 

Currently there is no public audiology service in Belize, requiring primary school teachers and other staff to recognize and screen for hearing disorders on their own with limited resources. Without proper training of educational staff and teachers, children in Belize may not have their hearing disorders recognized. Children with undiagnosed speech, language, hearing impairments and developmental disorders, such as autism, represent some of the most vulnerable populations in the country.

Organized by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the three day training workshop took place at The National Resource Center for Inclusion Education (NaRCIE). The workshop included sharing best practices and techniques for screening and diagnosing hearing loss. In addition, the basic concepts and screening techniques for detecting Autism were introduced. Participants who completed the training received a certificate for their participation and Lena Caesar presented The Inspiration Center computers configured to screen for hearing.

The training is expected to improve upon the participants skills and allow them to instruct others on early detection and screening for hearing disorders.

More information about the workshop and the Pan American Health Organization in Belize.