Minnesota Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program

Closing The Follow-Up Gap: Minnesota Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program

Early Hearing Detection & Intervention

In 2007, Minnesota Statute section 144.966 mandated the reporting of newborn hearing screening results and added hearing loss to the panel of more than 50 rare conditions for which every newborn in Minnesota is screened unless parents opt-out. This legislation requires:

• All hospitals to screen every newborn for hearing loss and report results to the MDH
• Professionals who conduct diagnostic procedures to confirm hearing loss to report the results to parents, primary care providers, and the MDH
• The MDH to design, implement, and evaluate a system of follow-up and tracking
• The MDH to evaluate program outcomes to increase effectiveness and efficiency and ensure culturally appropriate services for children with a confirmed hearing loss and their families

This same legislation created the Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Committee. The committee is intended to function in an advisory capacity to the Minnesota Department of Health program managers in Newborn Screening and the Minnesota Children and Youth with Special Health Needs (MCYSHN) subject areas and, ultimately, to the Commissioner of Health. The members are "to advise and assist the Department of Health and the Department of Education in developing protocols and timelines for screening, rescreening, and diagnostic audiological assessment and early medical, audiological, and educational intervention services for children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing." This committee is to extend and supplement the range of expertise of MDH's and MDE's technical staff.

MN EHDI Program Goals, Data, and Committee Meetings

• Minnesota EHDI 2015 Annual Report
• MN EHDI Goals, Indicators and Benchmarks
• Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Committee Operating Procedures
• Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Committee Meeting Agendas and Minutes

2023 Committee Meeting Dates:

February 15, 2023 (1-3 PM Virtual)
May 17, 2023 (1-4 PM In Person)
August 16, 2023 (1-4 PM In Person)
November 15, 2023 (1-3 PM Virtual)

Location of Committee Meetings (when in person):

Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
451 Lexington Pkwy. N
Saint Paul, MN 55104

Resources

National

2019 Joint Committee on Infant Hearing Position Statement

• Supplement to the JCIH 2007 Position Statement: Principles and Guidelines for Early Intervention After Confirmation That a Child Is Deaf or Hard of Hearing

EHDI National Goals, CDC

Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection in Pregnancy and the Neonate: Consensus Recommendations for Prevention, Diagnosis, and Therapy (2017)

Minnesota

Newborn Hearing Screening Mandate

Guiding Principles of MN EHDI Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Committee

Guidelines for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening in the Well Baby Nursery

Guidelines for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening in the NICU

Guidelines for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening for Out-of-Hospital Births

Guidelines for Otolaryngologists

Guidelines for Primary Care and Medical Home Providers

Guidelines for Infant Audiologic Assessment

Audiology Guidelines for Infants with Congenital Cytomegalovirus (PDF)

Guidelines for Pediatric Amplification

Guidelines for Audiologist Referral to Early Intervention, Medical Specialties and Connection to Parent-to-Parent and Family Support

Guidelines for Hearing Screening After the Newborn Period to Kindergarten Age

Screening Resources for After the Newborn Period:

• Hearing Screening Training Manual for use in Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC), Early Childhood Screening, Head Start, and school-based programs
• Otoscopy and Tympanometry Manual for use in Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC), Early Childhood Screening, Head Start, and school-based programs

Knowledge and Competencies for Professionals Working with Young Children who are Deaf or Hard and Hearing and Their Families

MN EHDI Annual Data Report

Resources

CDC Annual Data for EHDI

National Institute for Children's Health Quality

A Resource Guide for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, NCHAM EHDI eBook

Newborn Screening Information for Families: Parental Options

Order Free Newborn Screening Education Materials

Submit an order form for EHDI materials (free):

• Beginnings Book - available in English and Spanish
• Parent Roadmap (English, Hmong, Somali, Spanish)
• Transient Follow-up Postcard

Training Opportunities

2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023, Cincinnati, Ohio

10 Years Strong - Minnesota's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention System (YouTube 07:24)

Minnesota Department of Health - EHDI program is a stakeholder in the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, Deafblind & Hard of Hearing Collaborative Plan. The Collaborative Plan is a network of agencies, schools, and organizations that work together to create positive, systemic changes to achieve better education and career outcomes for students who are deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing. This video is one of five Impact Stories featured by the Collaborative Plan partnership.

Access the Collaborative Plan for Minnesota's System Serving Children who are Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing: 2019-2024 (PDF). Find the Plan on pages 29-33.