2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/11/2025 | 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Language Matters: A Quality Improvement Project to Improve Communication of Common EHDI Terms | 319
Language Matters: A Quality Improvement Project to Improve Communication of Common EHDI Terms
The EHDI 1-3-6 Benchmarks recommend enrollment in early intervention (EI) for children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) before six months of age. Children who are DHH have better outcomes, including language acquisition, when they are connected to EI by six months of age, or for older children, as soon as possible after diagnosis/identification. However, terms such as “early intervention” may be unfamiliar to parents, especially when translated into languages other than English. In this presentation, we will discuss collaboration between public health and parents of children who are DHH on a quality improvement project to examine and improve the common terms used when talking about EHDI topics, especially EI, in several languages. By equipping community partners with tools and talking points and improving the clarity of descriptions resources available for families, we hope to see an increase in parents/caregivers who are willing to listen when their local EI provider calls them over time. We will discuss 1) the quality improvement process used to develop clear talking points about EI in English, Hmong, and Spanish, 2) the results of Parent Guides using these talking points when discussing EI, and 3) highlight topics that need extra care when communicating to culturally diverse families, especially when translation or interpreters are required.
- Participants will be able to describe the quality improvement process used.
- Participants will be able to explain the importance of using language that originates from and resonates with the target community.
- Participants will be familiar with EHDI topics and word choices that need special attention when translating or interpreting.
Presentation:
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Handouts:
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Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Bridget Walde
(Primary Presenter,Co-Author), Minnesota Department of Health, bridget.walde@state.mn.us;
Bridget Walde is a Planner in the Longitudinal Follow-up Unit for the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). She supports the work of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program and other projects related to long-term follow-up for newborn screening conditions. Prior to working for MDH, she worked for the Children’s Defense Fund supporting the implementation of culturally responsive afterschool programming. She also spent two years working in Guatemala with children and adults with disabilities. Bridget graduated from Saint Louis University in 2018 with her Master of Public Health and a concentration in maternal and child health.
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.
Darcia Dierking
(Co-Presenter,Co-Author), 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 as an EHDI Coordinator doing longitudinal follow-up for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Grants for Other activities from HRSA.
• Receives Salary for Employment from MDH.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
HRSA.
Nature: MDH - Employment
HRSA-EHDI grant.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Anne Barlow
(Co-Presenter,Co-Author), Minnesota Hands & Voices, Anne.Barlow@lssmn.org;
Anne Barlow has been with Minnesota Hands & Voices since December of 2013. She began as a Parent Guide where she was able to share her 35+ years of experience as a parent of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. As director, Anne is honored to lead a diverse and passionate team who strongly believe in our mission of parent support and empowerment.
Anne lives in the northwest metro area. She and her husband are the proud parents of two adult children, the older of whom is Deaf, and are grandparents to 3 CODAs (Child of a Deaf Adult).
She is a “retired” Occupational Therapist (OTR) and has also worked as a para and/or volunteer in special education at the elementary level for many years. She loves to read mysteries, bake, bike, swim, and swing in a hammock. She tries to learn something new every day.
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.
Elena Miranda
(Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Minnesota Hands & Voices, Elena.Miranda@lssmn.org;
Elena Miranda has been with Minnesota Hands & Voices since August 2017 serving Culturally Diverse Families. Offering support, providing resources, and facilitating family-to-family connections are a few examples of how she serves families. She is passionate about engaging with new families and building social connections. She is a single mother of three kids, with her oldest being profoundly deaf bilaterally. His primary communication mode is ASL but also speaks Spanish and English. Elena is an active woman who cares about others. She loves discovering ways to support individuals and families. Elena also connects with her Latinas Group to offer more support and resources to families. She really enjoys almost everything she does with her kids like; cooking, organizing, playing, paddleboarding, playing in the snow, biking, decorating and taking long walks with their family dog. She truly believes that the less isolated people are the greater their chance of success in everything they do.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -
Lee Vang
(Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Minnesota Hands & Voices, Lee.Vang@lssmn.org;
Lee met Minnesota Hands & Voices (MNH&V) in 2023 which inspired her to join MNH&V in September 2023. She serves as the SE Asian Community Parent Guide throughout the state. Her passion is supporting, sharing, and connecting Asian community families with MNH&V services. Lee is currently in school for her Health and Human Services degree. She works as a mortgage auditor and a personal care assistant. Lee has an 8-year-old son who has unilateral, profound hearing loss. In her free time, she loves cooking, fishing, spending time with her family, and giving back to the community by volunteering to pack food at Feed My Starving Children Foundation and Neighborhood House. Lee currently lives in St. Paul Park, Minnesota. She is the youngest of 8 siblings (five sisters and two brothers) and has 28 nieces and nephews. Her son is the only one who has Unilateral hearing loss.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -