2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
| Hearing Technology Use among Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Minnesota
Hearing Technology Use among Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Minnesota
For children identified with hearing loss, families have a range of options when considering assistive hearing technologies, including hearing aids and cochlear implants, should they choose to pursue amplification. This presentation will examine current trends and patterns in family decision-making regarding hearing technology use for children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Particular attention will be given to the prevalence and types of amplification chosen, the timeliness of technology adoption, and changes in technology use over time. This presentation will draw on multiple data sources, including electronic medical record abstraction, local public health nursing assessments, audiology reporting, and interagency data sharing agreements, to assess the completeness of available public health data.
A central focus of this presentation will be to evaluate possible factors influencing family choices and timeliness of access to hearing technology services. These factors include hearing-related factors such as age at diagnosis and degree and laterality of hearing loss. Additionally, this presentation will focus on additional factors such as geography and access to services, family’s preferred language, and type of insurance coverage. Understanding these factors help guide system improvements to increase access to hearing technology care.
- Describe current patterns and trends of family choice for hearing technology use for children who are deaf and hard of hearing in Minnesota, including choice for amplification, timeliness of amplification, and changes in hearing technology use.
- Compare family choice for hearing technology across degrees of hearing loss (mild to profound) and laterality of hearing loss (unilateral vs bilateral).
- Identify key factors (demographic, geographic, and other social factors) that may influence family choice for hearing technology for children who are deaf and hard of hearing in Minnesota.
Presentation:
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Presenters/Authors
Sara Lammert
(Primary Presenter), 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.
Darcia Dierking
(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 -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Venessa Heiland
(Co-Author), Minnesota Department of Health, venessa.heiland@state.mn.us;
Venessa Heiland, RHIT, is a health program representative working with long-term follow-up after a child is identified as deaf or hard of hearing. She is experienced in EHR abstraction.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -