Evaluation Evaluation of a of a Statewide Early Hearing Detection Statewide Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program and Intervention Program Karen M. Ditty, M.S.,CCC-A National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management Utah State University www.infanthearing.org
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Evaluation of a of a Statewide Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program Karen M. Ditty, M.S.,CCC-A National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management.
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EvaluationEvaluation of a of a
Statewide Early Hearing Detection and Statewide Early Hearing Detection and Intervention ProgramIntervention Program
Karen M. Ditty, M.S.,CCC-A
National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management Utah State University
Reported Completion of Diagnostic 133 of 357 165 of 380 41 of 110*
Evaluations (state average) 37.3% 43.4% 40%
% of babies who complete Diagnostic 33 of 133 65 of 165 12 of 41*
Eval & have permanent hearing loss 24.8% 39.4% 29.3%
Number of babies still “in process” 224 215 69
*only 3 months worth of data
Diagnostic Evaluations Should be Completed by 3 Months of Age
• In an office visit with a baby who didn’t pass the final screening test, 90% of physicians say they refer for a diagnostic evaluation ASAP.
• 23% of physicians think that definitive hearing tests can’t be done until a baby is 3 or more months old.
Complete Diagnostic Evaluations by 3 Months of Age (continued)
• Many programs (20%) do no follow-up after referring to the physician
• For babies who do not pass the final screening test, only about half of parents are given names of audiologists or referred to their physician.
Enrolled in Appropriate Intervention by 6 Months of Age
• Only 63% of programs keep track of whether babies with hearing loss are enrolled in Early Intervention programs
• Many program coordinators don’t know what EI options are available in their area
• 47% of physicians don’t realize babies can be fit with hearing aids before 6 months of age
All Newborns Should Have a Medical Home
• All physicians were aware that their hospital had a UNHS program and thought it was valuable
• Most program coordinators report that they know who the primary care physician is for babies who do not pass
• Only 37% of physicians think their hospital does a good job of educating physicians about EHDI programs and most would like more information
Babies Diagnosed with Hearing Loss Are Not Referred to Some Medical Specialists As Often As Desired
Assume a newborn for whom you are caring is diagnosed with a moderate to profound bilateral hearing loss. If no other indications are present, would you refer the baby for a(n):
Always
or Often
Ophthalmological evaluation 24%
Genetic evaluation 38%
Otolaryngological evaluation 94%
Families Should be Provided with Culturally Competent Services
• Over 90% of parents “glad hearing screening is done” at their hospital, and “confident the hearing tests were correct”
• Families who remember receiving written information about the EHDI program, think it is understandable, attractive, and the right amount of detail
• 95%+ of parents whose baby didn’t pass, reported they knew “what to do next”
• 85% of parents who had questions reported that they were answered well
After all hearing tests were completed, how did you feel? Strongly Agree
or Agree
Worried about my baby’s hearing 11%
Confused about the results of screening tests 10%
Glad hearing screening is done at this hospital 91%
Confident the hearing tests were correct 91%
Frustrated by how long it took to get results 13%
Happy with the professional way screening was done 86%
Confident about what I needed to do next 88%
If the analysis is limited to those whose babies did not pass the inpatient or outpatient screen
After all hearing tests were completed, how did you feel? Strongly Agree or Agree
total group subgroupWorried about my baby’s hearing 11% 24%
Confused about the results of screening tests 10% 24%
Glad hearing screening is done at this hospital 91% 70%
Confident the hearing tests were correct 91% 70%
Frustrated by how long it took to get results 13% 28%
Happy with the professional way screening was done 86% 76%
Confident about what I needed to do next 88% 56%
Families Should be Provided with Culturally Competent Services (continued)
• Only 49% remember being given written information about newborn hearing screening- - - many would have liked more
• Over half didn’t know their hospital had a newborn hearing screening program before they checked in
• Many programs don’t have materials in Spanish despite large Spanish speaking population
• Parents whose babies require diagnostic evaluations:– 34% say “paying for the tests was difficult”
– 32% agree the “experience was scary and confusing”
– 17% say they “needed help, but didn’t know where to get it”
Effective Tracking and Follow-up
• Most people think the state’s Data Management Program is very useful, but many are unaware of valuable features
• 25% to 50% of hospitals don’t check to see if babies who don’t pass screening receive a diagnostic evaluation.
• Program coordinators report that 85% of babies come back for outpatient screening, but only 68% really do
Support from State Department of Health
• Past help has been viewed as extremely postive, especially:
– Promoting UNHS
– Developing educational materials
– Communicating with parents and physicians
– Connecting referred babies to diagnostic evaluations
• Hospitals would like more assistance
– Financing the cost of screening
– Data management and tracking
Conclusions
Much progress has been made and a solid foundation is in place for developing an exemplary program
There are excellent models in the state for each component of EHDI, but only a few programs have put it all together
Parents and physicians are very supportive of EHDI programs
All stakeholders need better information about resources, benefits and rational for EHDI programs
High refer rates and many babies lost for tracking and follow-up are serious problems which need to be resolved
Recommendations
Hospitals should:
• Be more proactive about following up with babies who do not pass the inpatient and/or outpatient screening