Last Updated: January 2023

Author: Division of Maternal and Child Health, VTEHDI Program, Vermont Department of Health

The indicator remained the same. Currently the Vermont Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (VTEHDI) provides the homebirth midwives with feedback on they are doing with hearing screening.

The Vermont Department of Health oversees the Vermont Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (VTEHDI). The first step in the comprehensive process of hearing loss identification is the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS). This initial hearing screening of all newborns within 1 month of birth is achieved through collaboration between VTEHDI and our external partners including homebirth midwives and naturopathic Doctors. The midwife typically obtains the initial hearing screening within the first month after the planned homebirth. The report card includes the number of infants who have received a hearing screening, the number of infant who received a hearing screening by one month, number of infants who have not received a screening and number of infants whose families have declined. Report cards are sent to individual midwives quarterly.

The  COVID-19 Pandemic and the Cyber-Attack at the University of Vermont Medical Center (Vermont's largest birthing center) impacted the 2020 and 2021 newborn hearing screening data and reporting.  Hospitals and Audiology Clinics closed for outpatient re-screenings at the beginning of the pandemic and again during the unprecedented cyberattack. Additionally, the VTEHDI staff were deployed to the Vermont Department of Health Emergency Team impacting day to day operations. The Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention recently published journal discusses the impact of COVID 19 on Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs nationwide for states and territories.

Homebirth Midwives and Naturopathic Doctors

The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) has outlined best practice and national standards for the screening, identification and rehabilitation of children with hearing loss in the position paper. This committee within the American Academy of Pediatrics aims to ensure the proper development of language and literacy for children who are diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing. The VTEHDI program recognizes these important milestones, monitors the hearing screening data in real time and provides guidance to our external partners regarding quality improvement initiatives.

Our program currently care manages all infants who have not received or need a follow-up hearing screening. We collaborate closely with our external partners to ensure timely hearing screening for infants born in Vermont.