2025 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 9-11, 2025 • Pittsburgh, PA
DAVID L. LAWRENCE CONVENTION CENTER
| Understanding Early Intervention (EI) Provider’s Needs for Language Assessment for Children with Hearing Loss in Minnesota
Understanding Early Intervention (EI) Provider’s Needs for Language Assessment for Children with Hearing Loss in Minnesota
Children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) who are identified early and provided access to language supports are more likely to meet language milestones similarly to other children their age. During the fall of 2024, state agency and community partners from across Minnesota developed a survey to better understand how early intervention providers are utilizing language assessment tools and professional continuing education regarding language acquisition for children who are DHH. The Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) priorities included supporting professional development opportunities for professionals working with children who are DHH, and to provide technical assistance and qualitative and quantitative data analysis for topics of interest, as requested by partners. This survey was shared with early interventions providers across Minnesota in 2024 through a combination of professional email mailing lists and promotion at statewide conferences. Analyses of survey results will include: frequency of assessments, common assessment tools used, experiences and confidence in using those tools, referral patterns to contractors and regional availability of professionals throughout Minnesota. This analysis will include EI provider’s knowledge of public health partnerships in their area and how public health infrastructure can support families and the system of language acquisition supports.
- Participants will be able to describe the methods, process, and timeline of developing the survey, including coordination with state agencies and community partners in Minnesota.
- Participants will be able to explain the perspectives/feedback of early intervention providers regarding the current state of language acquisition supports for children who are DHH in MN.
- Participants will be able to give examples of key ideas for possible system improvements around language acquisition supports and professional development with a public health lens.
Presentation:
3545975_18109SaraLammert.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Sara Lammert
(Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter,Author), Minnesota Department of Health, sara.lammert@state.mn.us;
Sara is an epidemiologist, focusing on longitudinal follow-up of children who are deaf and hard of hearing.
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.
Bridget Walde
(Co-Presenter,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.
Jess Moen
(Co-Presenter,Author), Minnesota Low Incidence Projects / Brightworks, jess.moen@brightworksmn.org;
Jess is the Minnesota Statewide Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Specialist with the Minnesota Low Incidence Projects. Jess has a background of working with children with hearing loss and their families as a Teacher of Deaf/Hard of Hearing in Northwestern Minnesota. She has focused much of her career on supporting young children with disabilities and their families during the early childhood years.
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,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.