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Utility of a multidisciplinary approach to pediatric hearing loss
Karen Ann Hawley1, Donald M Goldberg2, Samantha Anne2
1Department of Surgery, Otolaryngology Division, UNM School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131, New Mexico, United States.
Insights
A multidisciplinary clinic effectively coordinates care for children with hearing loss (HL). This approach improved patient satisfaction and follow-up rates across various specialists.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric audiology
- Clinical care coordination
- Multidisciplinary healthcare
Background:
- Management of pediatric hearing loss (HL) often involves multiple specialists.
- A dedicated Pediatric Hearing Management Clinic (PHMC) was established to streamline care for newly diagnosed children.
- Coordinated care is crucial for effective intervention in pediatric HL.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary clinic in coordinating care for children with newly diagnosed hearing loss.
- To assess patient satisfaction and follow-up success rates within the PHMC model.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patients attending the PHMC between February 2009 and April 2010.
- Analysis of clinic data, including HL categorization, audiological interventions, and specialist follow-up.
- Evaluation of patient-reported satisfaction scores.
Main Results:
- Of 41 patients, 37 had confirmed HL, categorized as bilateral/symmetric, bilateral/asymmetric, or unilateral.
- Sixteen patients received hearing amplification post-clinic visit.
- Successful follow-up rates varied by specialty, with audiology (73%) and speech pathology (92%) showing high engagement. Patient satisfaction was high, with a mean score of 3.8/4.0.
Conclusions:
- A multidisciplinary clinic approach is a convenient and effective model for coordinating pediatric hearing loss care.
- The PHMC model demonstrates success in managing HL, improving patient outcomes and satisfaction.
- Integrated care pathways enhance specialist engagement and intervention for children with HL.
Introduction:
Because management of hearing loss (HL) often requires multiple specialists, a multidisciplinary clinic, Pediatric Hearing Management Clinic, (PHMC) was established to coordinate care for children with newly diagnosed HL.
Methods:
Retrospective review of patients seen in PHMC from February 2009 to April 2010.
Results:
Clinic information was available for 40/41 of the patients and was included in the study. 37/41 had confirmed HL. HL was categorized into bilateral/symmetric [15], bilateral/asymmetric [12] and unilateral [10]. Sixteen patients subsequently received hearing amplification after PHMC visit. Follow up was successfully established with otolaryngology in 23/32 (72%) patients, audiology in 29/40 (73%) patients, speech pathology in 11/12 (92%) patients, and ophthalmology in 15/30 (50%) patients. Twenty-nine patients completed evaluations of PHMC. The mean score in six total categories was 3.8/4.0 (4.0 as the highest satisfaction).
Conclusion:
A multidisciplinary clinic approach provides a convenient and effective way to coordinate care for children with HL.
