SO U N D
MAT T E R S
2014 • ISSUE 1
Audiology Newsletter of the Minnesota Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Program
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Enhancing Care for Infants
EHDI Enrichment for ENT
There has been growing awareness of the need for
expanded guidance to general otolaryngologists on
supporting prompt and definitive diagnosis of hearing
loss for infants and young children. Though current
national documents outline important management
details after a permanent hearing loss is confirmed (Joint
Committee on Infant Hearing 2007 Guidelines), there
has not been a document outlining specific detail on the
otolaryngologist’s important role during diagnosis for
infants with a REFER newborn hearing screen result.
The Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Committee
has recently approved new EHDI Guidelines for
Otolaryngologists. This document aims to promote a
better understanding of the rationale for early hearing
detection and intervention and move toward a more
standardized process for supporting follow-up after a
REFER newborn hearing screen.
did you know?
Specifically, it focuses on guidance for ENT’s who see
infants in the following situations:
• During diagnosis after a REFER newborn hearing
screen
• After definitive diagnosis of hearing loss
• Throughout childhood to assess for emerging
hearing loss
MDH, along with otolaryngology partners on the
Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Committee, will
actively promote and disseminate this guideline and
other supporting materials over the next year. The first
opporunity to do this will occur at an MDH sponsored
exhibit booth at the January 2014 Minnesota Academy
of Otolaryngology meeting.
At the local level, audiologists’ support is also needed to
encourage ENT colleagues to utilize these new tools and
standardize their practices.
Report new permanent hearing loss
through age 10
The Minnesota Department of Health recommends reporting newly diagnosed, permanent hearing loss for children
through age 10 years. This was a program decision based on the fact that the majority of delayed onset hearing loss
is diagnosed by age 10. Reporting newly identified childhood hearing loss helps MDH examine the impact of risk
factors, make improvements to follow-up processes within the program, and enables MDH to ensure connections to
intervention and family support for children of all ages with diagnosed hearing loss.
Have you Heard? • • • • •
Findings Identify Barriers for DHH Students
The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
has published, Critical Needs of Students Who are Deaf
or Hard of Hearing: A Public Input Summary. This
document summarizes input from a broad spectrum
of educators, medical professionals, and parents who
have described barriers encountered for deaf and hard
of hearing children ages K-12. The analysis describes
the diverse range of needs impacting DHH children
across the nation.
Identifying Post-neonatal Hearing Loss
Though universal newborn hearing screening is highly
effective, vigilance in identifying late-onset hearing
loss is important. The incidence of newly diagnosed
hearing loss doubles between the newborn period and
school age. Dedhia et al, in a retrospective review,
found that parental concern, non-passing school
hearing screens, and speech-language delays most
commonly prompted diagnosis of late-onset hearing
loss, but often not until age four to six years.
To help support identification of late-onset hearing loss,
new Minnesota guidelines are in development. These
guidelines will provide a framework for objective OAE
hearing screening after the newborn period and prior to
standard pure tone hearing screening. Some clinics and
programs now offer OAE screening under age three,
though this is not a universal recommendation.
Last Words: From the Advisory Committee
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Meeting highlights...
• Approval of updated Guidelines for the Organization
and Administration of Universal Newborn Hearing
Screening Programs in the Well-Baby Nursery and NEW
Guidelines for Otolaryngologists
• Revision of Minnesota’s current EHDI benchmarks to
better outline plans for continued quality gains
Next meeting: Contact Us:
Newborn Screening Program
601 Robert St N, St Paul, MN 55155
Phone: (800) 664-7772 or (651) 201-5466
Fax: (651) 215-6285
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.health.state.mn.us/newbornscreening
EHDI Website: www.improveehdi.org/mn
February 5, 2014
2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Minnesota Department of Education
MDE Conference Center (Room TBD)
1500 Hwy 36 West, Roseville