Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)
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Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)
Early Intervention
Role of early intervention
Early Intervention providers are a crucial part of the EHDI system in Minnesota. The goal of the Minnesota EHDI program is that all infants and children identified as deaf and hard of hearing will receive timely and appropriate early intervention (special education services, family support, and access to medical specialty care).
Additionally, a number of young children who initially passed their newborn hearing screening may still experience hearing loss during early childhood. Continued hearing screening by early intervention providers and follow-up support during the preschool years is crucial to identify these children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Staying up-to-date on hearing screening skills is important for anyone providing hearing screenings. Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC) Trainings are provided throughout the state to primary care providers, clinic staff, local public health, Head Start, schools and those providing screening children, adolescents, and young adults in Minnesota. These trainings focus on Pure Tone Audiometry and performing risk assessments. For additional information, refer to the Guidelines for Hearing Screening After the Newborn Period to Kindergarten Age (PDF).
The following resources are for early interventionists who are supporting children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH).
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Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Legislative Report
- MDE's 2024 legislative report, Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Biennial Report to the Legislature (PDF), includes summaries of early childhood data, student demographics, child count, enrollment
counts, and graduation rates.
Minnesota Early Childhood Longitudinal Data System (ECLDS)
- MN ECLDS shows children's growth and achievement in relation to their participation in a variety of educational and social programs over time.
Minnesota Mentor Program (MMP) for teachers
- Protégés are matched with mentors who have experience in the same area of low-incidence disability licensure, including Deaf/Hard of Hearing.
- MMP application process
Resources for early interventionists
- Minnesota Department of Education Part C and Part B Resources
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Eligibility Criteria for Special Education (ages 3-21 years)
- Deaf or Hard of Hearing Condition Description
- Guidance on Hearing Loss Eligibility under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (PDF)
- Determining Eligibility for Minnesota's IDEA Part C Infant and Toddler Intervention Services for Young Children with Hearing Differences (PDF)
- Minnesota Low Incidence Projects
- 2019 Joint Committee on Infant Hearing Position Statement
- Supplement to the JCIH 2007 Position Statement: Principles and Guidelines for Early Intervention After Confirmation That a Child Is Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE), (2018). Optimizing Outcomes for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Educational Service Guidelines (PDF)
- Best Practices in Family-Centered Early Intervention for Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: An International Consensus Statement 2013, Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education
- Natural Environments for Infants and Toddlers Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and their Families (ASHA-CED)
- Early Intervention Service Provider Qualifications - National Association of the Deaf
- The SLP and Early Intervention with Infants and Toddlers with Hearing Loss (ASHA)
- Part C Eligibility Considerations for Infants and Toddlers Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (NCHAM)
Strengthen care coordination
- The Home Team: A Family-Centered Approach to Working with Newly Identified Babies Who Are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and Their Families (Video)
- Sharing Child Information to Coordinate Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Referrals Guide (PDF)
Engage families as partners
- A Parent's Wish List for Early Interventionists
- Exploring Communication Opportunities for Children with Hearing Differences: An Overview (PDF)
Connect to community resources
There are many resources available to families with a child identified as DHH. MDH mails an EHDI Parent Resource Binder (PDF) to families in Minnesota with a child recently identified as deaf and hard of hearing (DHH). The binder features the EHDI Roadmap (PDF), which offers information for families to make a care plan after identification. Below are just some of the Minnesota-specific resources providers can share with families. For additional resources, visit Resources for Families.
- NCHAM: Early Intervention Information & Resources Related to EHDI Programs
- Babyhearing.org: Glossary of Terms can be used when talking with families about hearing, causes of hearing loss and hearing devices.
- Babyhearing.org: How the Ear Works video
- Sign It! American Sign Language (ASL) classes online
- Hear To Learn: An interactive resource in English and Spanish, for parents and professionals to support spoken language development.
- Cue College: Learn to Cue Online. Cued speech combines simple hand cues with natural mouth movements of speech to make all sounds of spoken language visually clear.