Abstract
In 2007, the World Health Organization published a set of International Classification
of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) codes designed for children and youth
(ICF-CY version). The ICF-CY considers typical developmental changes associated with
childhood while describing health status and the effects of intervention. In this
article we will describe how a specific intervention (transition planning for adolescents)
can be documented with the ICF-CY. Transition planning in health care prepares adolescents
and their families for the transfer from pediatric to adult health services and has
been demonstrated to be an effective practice for adolescents with many types of chronic
health conditions (e.g., cystic fibrosis, epilepsy, diabetes). Audiology has not yet
addressed transition planning for adolescents with hearing loss; therefore, we propose
using the ICF-CY to design a pathway of care. The ICF-CY can standardize transition
planning to the benefit of both teen patients and audiologists: teens and their families
would gradually acquire necessary knowledge and skills, and audiologists would develop
a meaningful data set to help further inform our pediatric practices, as well as give
more structure, depth, and accountability to our role in rehabilitation.
Keywords
Transition - health literacy