How Do We Determine Rti for an Incoming Preschooler with a Medically Diagnosed Hearing Loss?

How do we determine RtI for an incoming preschooler with a medically diagnosed hearing loss?

The best resource document to help you with this is “Child Find/Kentucky System of Intervention (KSI) Preschool Toolkit” July 2009. It was developed by the KDE Division of Early Childhood Development Preschool Branch and the Early Childhood Regional Training Centers. It can be located on the KSD Outreach Wiki page Child Find/Ky System of Intervention (KSI) Preschool Kit July 2009 or from the KDE website

RtI requires documentation of research based interventions and data showing whether or not progress has taken place. For incoming preschoolers with a medially diagnosed hearing loss, this type of data may already exist before the child enters the school system. By far, most infants, toddlers and their families should have received Early Intervention services from a provider such as First Steps, a hospital or private center. Data from these places may be used by the school district. It should be the rare occurrence that a child has not received early intervention services.

When an incoming preschooler who has a medically diagnosed hearing loss comes to the attention of the district here is, in simplistic form, what needs to be done.

1. Determine if the child has received consistent early intervention services.
2. If so, obtain and determine if documentation exists showing use of research based interventions and continuous data monitoring to determine progress.
3. If not, or appropriate documentation does not exist, a plan needs to be developed to implement research based interventions,including research based interventions for children with hearing loss and continuous data monitoring to determine progress.
4. This plan of intervention and continuous data monitoring for progress may be put into place before the child enters the school system or when the child enters the school system.

RtI and referral to special education services may occur at the same time. Districts may not develop policies that delay referral to special education for any period of time,

(Child Find/Ky System of Intervention (KSI) Preschool Kit July 2009, page 11).

Keep in mind when a child has a medically diagnosed hearing loss, research based interventions utilized should include research based interventions for children with hearing loss. These types of interventions can be found at the KSD Outreach Wiki page, Colorado Model of Support for Students with Hearing Loss

Multiple scenarios exist for a child entering preschool with a medically diagnosed hearing loss. Each would be handled differently depending on particular factors. Contact your KSD Consultant who can assist you with your individual set of circumstances.