2024 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 17-19, 2024 • Denver, CO
3/19/2024 | 2:15 PM - 2:40 PM | Longitudinal Follow-up of Children with Unilateral Hearing Loss in Minnesota | Mineral Hall B/C
Longitudinal Follow-up of Children with Unilateral Hearing Loss in Minnesota
Approximately 250 children are reported each year to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) EHDI program as deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). About 160 are identified in the newborn period and about 100 are identified later between the ages of 1 and 10 years. Approximately 40% of reported hearing loss among children is unilateral, and estimates suggest that 10% of children with unilateral hearing loss will progress to bilateral hearing loss. MDH is mandated in statute to identify and follow children identified with a hearing loss and design, implement, and evaluate a longitudinal system of follow-up and tracking of children and youth who are deaf or hard of hearing. Starting in 2020, MDH Newborn Screening began working with medical facilities to increase Electronic Health Record (EHR) access for short- and long-term follow-up. MDH EHDI currently has EHR access covering more than 70% of births. With this access, MDH EHDI longitudinal follow up initiated surveillance of unilateral hearing loss cases to better assess factors that influence their outcomes. In this presentation, we will discuss the process used by the Longitudinal Follow-Up program at MDH with the goal of identifying children with progressive hearing loss or those with changes in laterality over time.
First, we will describe the abstraction process used to identify children in Minnesota who are DHH initially diagnosed with a unilateral hearing loss and who have progressed to bilateral hearing loss. Secondly, we will describe challenges to data completeness in surveillance of characteristics of children with unilateral hearing loss. Lastly, we will discuss practices and methods that in result in successful abstraction of longitudinal follow-up data for unilateral hearing loss.
- Characterize and describe the abstraction process used to identify children initially diagnosed with a unilateral hearing loss who have progressed to bilateral hearing loss.
- Describe challenges to data completeness in surveillance of characteristics of children with unilateral hearing loss.
- Identify practices and methods that result in successful abstraction of longitudinal follow-up data.
Presentation:
3478265_16393SaraLammert.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
3478265_16393SaraLammert.docx
Presenters/Authors
Sara Lammert
(Primary Presenter), Minnesota Department of Health, sara.lammert@state.mn.us;
Sara is an epidemiologist, focusing on longitudinal follow-up of children who are deaf and hard of hearing.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Venessa Heiland
(Co-Presenter), Minnesota Department of Health, venessa.heiland@state.mn.us;
Venessa Heiland, RHIT, is a health program representative working with long-term follow-up after a child is identified as deaf or hard of hearing. She is experienced in EHR abstraction.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with MN Dept of Health.
Nature: Employer .
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Darcia Dierking
(Co-Presenter), Minnesota Department of Health, darcia.dierking@state.mn.us;
Darcia Dierking, Au.D. holds pediatric audiology specialty certification and has more than 20 years of clinical and research experience working with both children and adults. Dr. Dierking works with the Minnesota Department of Health Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program doing longitudinal follow-up for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from Minnesota Department of Health.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Minnesota Department of Health.
Nature: Employment.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.