18th ANNUAL EARLY HEARING DETECTION & INTERVENTION MEETING
March 3-5, 2019 • Chicago, IL
Final Hearing Outcomes After Diagnosis of Transient Conductive Hearing Loss
Transient conductive hearing loss is one of the outcomes diagnosed after an infant does not pass newborn hearing screening. When transient conductive loss is diagnosed, objective audiological test evidence suggests that middle ear issues are the primary cause of decreased hearing, and that hearing should resolve to normal once middle ear issues resolve. Tracking hearing levels until middle ears are clear is ideal so that any underlying permanent conductive or sensorineural hearing loss is identified. Only 30% of transient conductive cases reported to MDH during 2012 (n=100) had a final hearing outcome reported to MDH (after middle ear issues resolved) up to 2 years later. A paper published by Boone et al, 2005, suggested that 11% of transient conductive cases in infants who fail newborn hearing screening may not return to normal once middle ear issues resolve, and may have underlying permanent hearing loss that would warrant referral to early intervention. MDH data showed the percentage of underlying permanent hearing loss diagnosed in this transient conductive population (of final hearing outcomes reported for 2010 to 2012) ranged from 4% to 9%. This prompted continued concern about undiagnosed underlying permanent loss in the remaining 70% of cases with unknown hearing status.
- Attendees will be able to describe a working process for follow-up of infants with confirmed transient conductive hearing loss
- Attendees will be able to review the impact of various factors related to final outcomes
- Attendees will be able to discuss details necessary to implement this type of process
Poster:
18878_10413MelanieWege.pdf
Presenter: Melanie Wege
Melanie Wege is a board certified audiologist who joined the Minnesota EHDI Team after 17 years as a clinical audiologist with a primary interest in pediatric diagnosis and follow-up. Her focus with the Minnesota EHDI Team is to provide education, support, and ongoing quality system improvement strategies to all providers involved with infant hearing screening and follow-up through diagnosis.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Kirsten Coverstone is an audiologist with many years of service dedicated to early hearing detection and intervention. She grew up in southern Minnesota, earned her masters degree from the Univ. of Northern Iowa and her doctorate from Salus University. Kirsten has actively worked at the local state and national levels to promote universal newborn screening for hearing. As coordinator of the Lions Infant Hearing Program at the University of Minnesota she worked directly with hospitals to establish effective hearing screening programs and audiologists to confirm hearing loss. In addition, Kirsten implemented a statewide hearing instrument loaner program for infants and young children in Minnesota. She is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children and their families as the MDH EHDI Screening Program Coordinator.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
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 -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Melinda Marsolek is an epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health's Newborn & Child Follow-up Unit. She has been working with Minnesota's EHDI program since 2012.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.