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Sociodemographic Factors Influencing Pandemic-Era Ehdi Use And Access, Nicole Perez, David Adkins, Marissa Schuh, Jennifer B. Shinn, Lori Travis, Matthew L. Bush

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic impact on Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs is unknown. This research evaluated sociodemographic factors influencing adherence to EDHI diagnostic testing and the incidence of infant hearing loss during the pandemic.

Method: We evaluated EHDI adherence and incidence of hearing loss in Kentucky before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using univariate and multivariate analysis, we evaluated the association of these outcomes to sociodemographic variables.

Results: There were 71,206 births and 1,385 referred infant hearing screening tests during the study period. Infants during the pandemic had a 24% lower odds of hearing testing adherence (OR …

Factors Contributing To Late Identification Of Deaf/Hard Of Hearing Children In Louisiana, Danielle D. Mercer, Tri Tran, Dawne Mccabe, Terri Ibieta, Dana Hubbard

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

To ensure children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) receive supports they need to reach their full potential, it is imperative that they be identified as early as possible. Early Hearing Detection and Intervention benchmarks stipulate children who are D/HH be enrolled in early intervention no later than 6 months of age. A major barrier to early enrollment is late identification. We reviewed records of children identified as D/HH in Louisiana after 6 months of age for 2015-2020 birth cohorts to determine factors contributing to the late identification. Cases were examined in-depth after it was determined that a diagnosis was …

Improving South Dakota Parents’ Knowledge Of Congenital Cytomegalovirus, Hannah M. Williams, Jessica Messersmith, Jacynda Gellhaus

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Introduction: Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the most common infectious condition present at birth and the leading non-genetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss in children. Despite CMV being common and preventable, knowledge of CMV remains low among individuals in the United States (Doutre et al., 2016). Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is also common among infants in the United States, but unlike cCMV, several studies have researched which educational methods have been most effective for improving parents’ knowledge of safe sleep practices. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether educational methods shown to be most effective for improving parents’ …

Impact Of Social Determinants Of Health On Early Hearing Detection And Intervention Screening/Diagnosis Outcomes, Nannette Nicholson, Ellen A. Rhoades, Rachel E. Glade, Laura Smith-Olinde

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Purpose

We reviewed how Social Determinants of Health relate to health inequities and disparities for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs. Then, we examine links between specific sociodemographic factors (maternal age, maternal education, ‘race’/ethnicity) and hearing screening and diagnostic audiology follow-up for newborns in the U.S. and its territories.

Methods

Maternal demographic, hearing screening and diagnostic data extracted from publicly available Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) records were reported to CDC by personnel responsible for EHDI programs. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using analysis of variance and multiple regression techniques.

Results

Results showed no significant differences …

Assessing Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Receipt And Timeliness Of Newborn Hearing Screening And Diagnostic Services Among Infants Born In Four States, Suhana Ema, Sana Charania, Xidong Deng, Charles Rose, Craig A. Mason, Marcus Gaffney, Brandt Culpepper, Michael Lo, Tri Tran, Marcia Fort

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The study compares receipt and timeliness of newborn hearing screening and follow-up diagnostic services between the pre-pandemic birth cohort and the pandemic birth cohort in four participating states. Findings from this study will help inform state Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs in the future should major public health event occur again.

Likely Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Newborn Hearing Screening And Follow-Up Services In The United States In 2020, Kelly Dundon, Suhana Alam, Xidong Deng, Mia Morrison, Treeby Brown, Karl R. White, Linda Hazard, Macia Fort, Kirsten R. Coverstone, Craig Mason, Marcus Gaffney

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

This perspective aims to highlight aspects of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) newborn hearing screening and follow-up processes that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and considers factors that likely impacted follow-up after newborn hearing screening among infants born in the United States during 2020. Efforts to minimize the potential impact of missed or delayed identification of hearing loss in infants and young children will also be discussed to help guide future program improvement activities.

Association Between Craniofacial Anomalies And Newborn Hearing Screening Fail Rate, Kaitlyn Sheapp, Ruth S. Marin, Larry Medwetsky

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Purpose: Increased knowledge of the prevalence of various craniofacial anomalies and their associated risks for hearing loss can help guide 1) development of evidence-based practice regarding detection and documentation of risk factors at birth and 2) health care professionals to make appropriate recommendations for follow-up testing and monitoring.

Method: Records were reviewed for 39,813 infants born at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center and White Oak Medical Center between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2019 to determine the association between the presence of craniofacial anomalies and newborn hearing screening fail rates, as well as the prevalence of confirmed hearing …

Audiologist Perception On Reporting Hearing Assessment Results To State Early Hearing Detection And Intervention Programs, Winnie Chung, Maria Sanchez-Gomez

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Purpose

To describe an evaluation conducted by 39 state EHDI programs on how acceptable the reporting process and system audiologists had to use when reporting the hearing test results to the EHDI program and the barriers encountered during reporting.

Methods

Each author independently extracted numbers, percentages, and texts from the evaluation reports into an Excel spreadsheet, which then became the dataset. Authors then compared and cross-checked the datasets before coding. Texts conveying similar concepts were coded with the same name and organized into categories. Finally, thematic identification and analysis were performed when a theme(s) or concept(s) that pertained to similar …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Newborn Hearing Screening Programs In Western States, Nathan A. Blaseg, Hannah M. Williams, Shelby Jepperson, Jessica J. Messersmith

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The primary objective of this study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on newborn hearing screening guideline adherence and the respective rates of screening, diagnosis, and intervention. This was a review of newborn hearing screening data compiled from the Departments of Health of six states for the time periods of March-September 2019 and March-September 2020. Endpoints included the numbers of live births as well as the numbers and timeframes of screening, diagnostic, and intervention events. Two-tailed paired t-tests were performed to determine statistical significance. 181,662 births in six states were assessed. Compared to March-September 2019, March-September 2020 …

A Survey On The Global Status Of Newborn And Infant Hearing Screening, Katrin Neumann, Harald A. Euler, Shelly Chadha, Karl R. White

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

No abstract provided.

Timeliness Of Ehdi Benchmarks In Infants With A Nicu Admission Greater Than Five Days: Analysis From A Retrospective Cohort, Caitlin Sapp, Tammy O'Hollearn, Elizabeth Ann Walker

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The purpose of this study was to examine the timeline of early hearing healthcare in infants with a history of lengthy (> 5 days) admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) compared to non-NICU peers. We compiled four years of state Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) records from 156,335 infants using a statewide administrative database. We compared age at the time of newborn hearing screening, diagnostic audiological evaluation, and entry into early intervention in NICU infants and non-NICU infants. We also compared the proportion of NICU and non-NICU infants meeting prescriptive EHDI timing benchmarks based on the Joint …

Private Insurance Reimbursements For Newborn Hearing Screening In The United States, 2013-2014, Thuy Quynh Do, Winnie Chung, Scott Grosse

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The purpose of this study was to describe private insurance reimbursements for newborn hearing screening (NBHS) in the United States. Data from the MarketScan® Commercial Databases were used to estimate reimbursement for privately insured infants born between January 1, 2013–December 31, 2014. Estimates were based on billed claims for hearing-related services during infancy (71,820 infants with inpatient NBHS, 1,104 with outpatient NBHS). Median reimbursement for NBHS performed in a hospital setting was $148.00 (range $113.51–$196.02) when billed as an inpatient service and $136.48 (range $86.08–$220.15) when billed as an outpatient service. Both reimbursement amounts were three times greater than the …

Odds Of Autism At 5 To 10 Years Of Age For Children Who Did Not Pass Their Aabr Newborn Hearing Screen, But Were Diagnosed With Normal Hearing, Shihfen Tu, Craig A. Mason, Deborah L. Rooks-Ellis, Patricia Lech

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Background: Research has found atypical Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) activity in some children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The current study examined whether an association may also be found between ASD and pass/refer results obtained via Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) screening. As stewards of large-scale AABR data, an AABR – ASD association may be of interest to EHDI programs.

Methods: State EHDI data for 29,350 children born in Maine between 2003 and 2005 were linked with education records, including special education status, for the 2010/2011 and 2013/2014 school years.

Results: Children who did not pass their …

Supporting Families Of A Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing Child: Key Findings From A National Needs Assessment, Alyson C. Ward, Vicki Hunting, Diane D. Behl

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

This article reports findings from a national needs assessment to ascertain the needs of families of young children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), and what supports, resources and opportunities Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs and EHDI-contracted Family-based Organizations (FBOs) were providing to families. Results were intended to guide the activities of a federally funded technical assistance center charged with promoting Family Leadership in Language & Learning for families of children who are DHH. There were 458 completed surveys by parents of children who were DHH between the ages of 0-6. Surveys were completed by 56 …

Assessment Of Factors Involved In Non-Adherence To Infant Hearing Diagnostic Testing, Anita Shanker, Marcia Vanessa Rojas-Ramirez, Julie A. Jacobs, Jennifer B. Shinn, Cathy Lester, Philip M. Westgate, Matthew L. Bush

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Abstract

Introduction: Delayed diagnosis of pediatric hearing loss can cause delays in cognitive and social development. This study described the sociodemographic factors associated with delayed timing of a final hearing diagnosis after an abnormal newborn hearing screening (NBHS). Methods: Parent-infant dyads were recruited after being referred for further audiologic testing on an abnormal result from the NBHS. Results: Of the 53 participants, 55% (n=29) did not receive a final diagnosis by the recommended 3 months of age. Of those with a delayed diagnosis, 45% (n=13) had their first appointment within 3 months, but a delay was caused by an inconclusive …

Year 2019 Position Statement: Principles And Guidelines For Early Hearing Detection And Intervention Programs

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

No abstract provided.

Involvement Of Adults Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing In Ehdi Programs, Elizabeth Shuler-Krause, Karl R. White

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Consistent with a position statement of the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH, 2007), several key organizations and groups have supported involving deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) adults in Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) systems, including providing families of children who are DHH with opportunities to interact with adults who are DHH. This article reviews the available data on the involvement of adults who are DHH in EHDI systems to determine the availability of opportunities for families who have children who are DHH to interact with adults who are DHH, how families feel about these experiences, and to …

Family Impact Of Pediatric Hearing Loss: Findings From Parent Interviews And A Parent Support Group, Kristen L. Haddad, Wendy W. Steuerwald, Lori Garland

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Parents experience numerous stressors tied to their child's diagnosis as deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). This study sought to inquire about the lived experiences of parents with children who are DHH to inform the types of supports that should be provided within an audiology care coordination system. Semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with parents of children under the age of five who are DHH and patients of the Division of Audiology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC). Interview findings informed focus group questions, which were facilitated in a parent support group with parents of children who are DHH …

Development Of A State-Wide Database Of Early Intervention And Educational Outcomes For Children Who Are Deaf/Hard Of Hearing, Alonzo T. Folger, Susan Wiley, Allyson Vanhorn, Wendy Grove, Nathan Dedino, Mallory Minter-Mohr, Ting Sa Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center And University Of Cincinnati College Of Medicine, Jareen Meinzen-Derr

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Children who are born deaf/hard of hearing (D/HH) are at increased risk for delays in language, cognitive and social-emotional development. Early identification through screening and early intervention (EI) can improve outcomes for children who are D/HH. However, a need remains to evaluate the effectiveness and practices of statewide programs for children who are D/HH. The Ohio EHDI Data Linkage Project was created as a state-wide collaborative that included multiple Ohio government agencies and an academic institution. The objective of the project was to develop and characterize population-based, longitudinal database that documents state-level services and outcomes for children who are D/HH …

Progress In Documented Early Identification And Intervention For Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Infants – Cdc’S Hearing Screening And Follow-Up Survey, United States, 2006–2016, Krishnaveni Subbiah, Craig A. Mason, Marcus Gaffney, Scott D. Grosse

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The national EHDI 1-3-6 goals state that all infants should be screened for hearing loss before 1 month of age; with diagnostic testing before 3 months of age for those who do not pass screening; and early intervention (EI) services before 6 months of age for those with permanent hearing loss. This report updates previous summaries of progress on these goals by U.S. states and territories. Data are based on the Hearing Screening and Follow-up Survey (HSFS) conducted annually by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the years 2006–2016. Trends were assessed using 3-year moving averages, with rates …

Restructuring Data Reported From State Early Hearing Detection And Intervention (Ehdi) Programs: A Pilot Study, Suhana Alam, Tammy O'Hollearn, Jim Beavers, Alyssa K. Rex, Rebekah F. Cunningham, Winnie Chung, Xidong Deng, Thuyquynh N. Do

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Objective: To assess the feasibility, benefits, and challenges surrounding individual-level versus aggregate data reporting by jurisdictional EHDI programs to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Methods: Using data reported to CDC by three jurisdictions in 2011, descriptive statistics were used to assess the feasibility of collecting and reporting individual-level data. Comparisons were made on what can be learned from individual-level data as opposed to CDC’s aggregate survey data.

Results: Individual-level data provided a detailed overview of the population served, services received, and variations across jurisdictions in data collection, reporting, and quality monitoring practices. Several challenges and areas needing …

Where Do We Go From Here? The Need For Genetic Referrals In Patients Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing: Findings From A Regional Survey, Tyson S. Barrett, Amanda Wylie, Beth Vogel, Kunal Sanghavi, Melissa Raspa, Kathryn P. Aveni, Kathryn Tullis, Michele Caggana, Karl R. White, Joann Bodurtha

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess primary health care providers’ knowledge and use of genetic services for children whose hearing screening indicates they may be deaf/hard of hearing (D/HH) and identify areas in which health care providers can be supported to increase family education and referral of families for genetic consultation.

Methodology: A survey was developed on current practices, knowledge, and perceived beliefs regarding genetic education and referrals for deafness. The surveys were distributed to pediatricians, family medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, and WV.

Results: Among 266 …

Identification Of Oral Clefts As A Risk Factor For Hearing Loss During Newborn Hearing Screening, Patricia L. Purcell, Kathleen Cy Sie, Todd C. Edwards, Debra Lochner Doyle, Karin Neidt

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Objective: This study assessed whether children with oral clefts are appropriately classified as at-risk for hearing loss at the time of newborn hearing screening and describes their screening and diagnostic results.

Design: Birth certificates were used to identify children with cleft lip and palate or isolated cleft palate born in Washington State from 2008–2013. These were cross-referenced with the state’s Early Hearing Detection, Diagnosis and Intervention (EHDDI) database. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine associations.

Results: Birth records identified 235 children with cleft lip and palate and 116 with isolated cleft palate. Six children were listed as having both …

Hearing And Vision Screening In Pediatric Primary Care And The Sharing Of Results With Early Care And Education Programs, Susan J. Macary, Lisa Honigfeld, Margaret W. Berry, Dorothy B. Wakefield

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

This study explores the extent to which pediatric primary care (PPC) providers share hearing and vision screening results with early care and education (ECE) programs and report being unable to assess hearing and vision among pre-kindergarten children. Reports of hearing and vision screening are assessed to explore whether national support for early hearing detection and intervention has similarly promoted vision screening in PPC. We evaluated the reporting of hearing and vision screening data from 4,119 Early Childhood Health Assessment records, which were obtained from licensed ECE programs in Connecticut. Records were stratified by age group into younger or older per …

Late Newborn Hearing Screening, Late Follow-Up, And Multiple Follow-Ups Increase The Risk Of Incomplete Audiologic Diagnosis Evaluation, Tri Tran, Ian Ng, Thiravat Choojitarom, Jeanette Webb, Wendy Jumonville, Mary Jo Smith, Terri Ibieta, Melinda Peat, Susan Berry

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

This study aimed to determine whether the following factors were associated with an incomplete audiologic diagnosis evaluation (IAD): age at newborn screening, length of time between newborn screening and first follow-up, and total number of follow-ups. 2011-2013 linked Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention data and birth records were analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate different effects of the predictors on IAD among birth weight groups. In very low birth weight newborns, there were no statistical associations of IAD with age at NHS or length of time between NHS and first follow-up, but there was with the number …

Home Visiting Programs For Families Of Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing: A Systematic Review, Nannette Nicholson, Patti Martin, Abby Smith, Sheila Thomas, Ahmad A. Alanazi M.Aud.

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Prelingual hearing loss greatly restricts a child’s language development, hindering his or her behavioral, cognitive and social functioning. Although technology such as hearing aids and cochlear implants are an option for providing access to sound, they fail to teach the child how to listen or attend, how to process language (whether visual or spoken), or how to produce language and communicate. Home visiting is widely recognized as a cost-effective intervention service delivery model. Home visiting programs for promoting language development in children who are diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing have been in existence for over 50 years, yet …

Time Trend And Factors Associated With Late Enrollment In Early Intervention Among Children With Permanent Hearing Loss In Louisiana 2008-2013, Tri Tran, Yao Wang, Mary Jo Smith, Brenda Sharp, Terri Ibieta, Jeanette Webb, Wendy Jumonville, Melinda Peat, Susan Berry

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

This study aimed to identify the time trend of and factors associated with late enrollment in early intervention (EI) services among children with permanent hearing loss (HL) born between 2008 and 2013 in Louisiana. 2008-2013 linked Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, birth records, EarlySteps (IDEA, Part C), Parent-Pupil Education Program, and Medicaid data were analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the trend and associations of mother and child’s demographic and hearing loss characteristics with late EI enrollment. Results of data analyses did not show any trend of late enrollment in EI services from 2008 to 2013. Delayed …

Prevalence And Trends Of Childhood Hearing Loss Based On Federally-Funded National Surveys: 1994–2013, Tyson S. Barrett, Karl R. White

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

A recent highly cited publication, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), concluded that the prevalence of childhood hearing loss in the United States is increasing (Shargorodsky, Curan, Curhan, & Eavey, 2010). This article examines the accuracy of that conclusion based on additional data from three nationally-representative surveys of childhood health. Using data from NHANES, the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), logistic regression was used to assess trends from audiometry-measured and parent-reported childhood hearing loss.

In contrast to prior research, the results were highly conflicting. NHANES suggested both …

Progress In Standardization Of Reporting And Analysis Of Data From Early Hearing Detection And Intervention (Ehdi) Programs, Suhana Alam, Ashley Satterfield, Xidong Deng, Craig A. Mason

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Congenital hearing loss affects one to three of every 1,000 live born infants. If left undetected, it may negatively impact children through delayed speech and language development. To help avoid developmental delays and ensure that deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) infants are identified and receiving services as early as possible, complete and accurate data are crucial. Despite substantial progress made over the years, some children are still delayed in identification and/or lost to the early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) surveillance and tracking systems. Lack of standardization in data reporting contributes to this issue. This article discusses reasons for …

Maternal Anxiety Associated With Newborn Hearing Screening, Stephen J. Tueller, Karl R. White

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The purpose of this study was to determine if newborn hearing screening increases maternal anxiety. Mothers whose infants were screened for hearing were asked how worried they were prior to hospital discharge and again six weeks later. They were also asked if they were more concerned about their baby’s hearing than they were about other aspects of the infant’s health and behavior.

Results showed that mothers worried as much or more about many other aspects of their infants’ health and behavior as about hearing. Mothers whose infants had a false positive screening result were initially more worried about hearing than …