EHDI Update

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)

Minnesota Commission Serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing People receives the Antonia Brancia Maxon award for EHDI Excellence from the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) in February 2008

“It was such an honor to be able to honor you as the first recipient of the Antonia Brancia Maxon Award for EHDI Excellence at the recent 2008 National EHDI (Early Hearing Detection and Intervention) meeting in New Orleans. The work that you and others did in securing bi-partisan support in your legislature for a hearing screening mandate at birth and for funds that provide support and coordination for families with babies newly diagnosed with hearing loss is a model for the rest of the country.

Please convey our thanks and congratulations to all the people with whom you worked to make this possible, including the legislators who provided funding for such a comprehensive and innovative approach….You have established a great foundation on which you can build a truly exemplary program. I hope that others in the country will recognize the importance of what you have done and will follow your example. It is such an honor to be able to work with the people of Minnesota who are doing great things for children and families. Best wishes for your continued accomplishments —- there are much left to do.” - Dr. Karl White, Director of NCHAM

Screening and Reporting and Advisory Committee

Since the implementation of the EHDI mandate in July 2007, screening for hearing loss in newborns has gone from 75% (which put Minnesota in the bottom 5 of states) to 97%, which puts us close to the top. The Department of Health is working on the last 3%- most of these births occur in the home or occur in rural hospitals and need help with developing new systems. The Commissioner of Health has made appointments to the EHDI Advisory Committee and it is meeting to develop medical and educational guidelines. The medical guidelines are almost completed.

Parent Guides

The Department of Health has contracted with Minnesota Hands and Voices. They have contacted every family within days of their baby’s diagnosis and provided them with support and unbiased information about communication, educational opportunities and medical options.

Hearing Aid Loaner Bank

The Department of Health has signed a contract with the University of Minnesota to run the Hearing Instrument Loaner Bank with the $70,000 a year and is providing loans of hearing aids to families with babies with hearing loss immediately upon request. Every family that has requested help has received it.

Deaf Mentors

The Department of Human Services began administering this program July 1, 2007. Training has been provided to Deaf Mentors and there is now a waiting list of parents who would like to have Deaf Mentors come into their home and teach sign language.

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Coordinator

The half-time Coordinator was hired two weeks ago in February and has met with the sixteen EHDI teams and with the statutory EHDI Advisory Committee.