2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
DUKE ENERGY CONVENTION CENTER
Examining Barriers to Early Hearing Diagnosis in Ohio
Although the national benchmark for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) has been to complete screening by 1 month, diagnosis by 3 months, and early intervention by 6 months for over two decades, multiple barriers exist that hinder families from effectively moving through the EHDI process. This retrospective study evaluated various socioeconomic factors which have an impact on EHDI in the state of Ohio. Between 2018 and 2021, around 3,000 newborns were referred to our clinic for evaluations due to risk of hearing loss. After exclusion criteria was applied, 89% received a diagnosis within 3 months of birth and 4.2% were loss-to-follow-up (LTFU). This study was completed to identify family and system-level barriers affecting the facilitation of EHDI in the central Ohio area.
Known barriers to diagnostic assessments include age at referral, middle ear involvement, race/ethnicity, insurance type, and family access to follow-up centers based on geographical location. The extent to which these factors influenced loss to follow-up was examined. Overall, age at referral was relatively later for infants who were delayed or LTFU. A larger proportion of infants who had delayed diagnosis experienced middle ear involvement compared to those diagnosed on time. Families who identified as non-hispanic black or bi/multi-racial were more often delayed in diagnosis or LTFU. Lastly, infants with public insurance were more likely to experience delayed diagnosis or LTFU than infants with private insurance.
This retrospective study provides information regarding the socioeconomic factors which affect loss to follow-up rates in the EHDI program in the central Ohio area. Knowing which populations are most at risk to be lost to follow-up and what barriers prevent appointment completion can help create targeted interventions to facilitate the EHDI process, which will help maximize outcomes in children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Potential interventions and outcomes of implementation will be discussed.
- 1. Attendees will be able to identify barriers to timely early hearing detection and intervention.
- 2. Attendees will be able to examine differential effects of barriers on timely vs. delayed diagnosis and loss-to-follow-up.
- 3. Attendees will be able to list potential interventions to address identified barriers.
Poster:
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Presenter: Ursula Findlen
Ursula M. Findlen, Ph.D., is the Director of Audiology Research in the Division of Clinical Therapies- Audiology Department at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and an Assistant Professor-Clinical at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Findlen engages in clinical practice and research endeavors related to pediatric (re)habilitative audiology, particularly in regards to a multidisciplinary team approach to family-centered care. Her research interests include infant diagnostics and improving outcomes of children with hearing loss through systematic quality improvement and population health endeavors.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Madeline is a current 3rd-year student in The Ohio State University's Doctor of Audiology program. She graduated from OSU in 2019 with a B.A. in Speech and Hearing Science. She hopes to complete her externship at a pediatric hospital and become a pediatric audiologist upon completion of her doctorate of audiology degree.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.