Evaluating Data Quality of Newborn Hearing Screening

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Information Systems
• Pediatric Audiology

Background:

• Jurisdictional Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Information Systems (EHDI-IS) are vital for monitoring infant hearing screening and follow-up.
• These systems support EHDI programs in identifying and providing services to deaf/hard-of-hearing (DHH) infants.
• Data quality and timeliness are critical for the success of EHDI programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy, completeness, uniqueness, and timeliness of hearing screening data within EHDI-IS.
• To assess the acceptability of EHDI-IS among data reporters.
• To identify areas for improvement in data collection and reporting.

Main Methods:

• Evaluations were conducted across 48 EHDI programs funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2013-2016.
• Data quality metrics (accuracy, completeness, uniqueness, timeliness) were assessed.
• Reporter acceptability of the EHDI-IS was measured.

Main Results:

• Most state EHDI programs receive newborn hearing screening results consistently from hospitals.
• Data reporters demonstrate willingness to report according to established protocols.
• Challenges remain in the accuracy and completeness of demographic data, data for transferred infants, and data for NICU infants.

Conclusions:

• EHDI-IS effectively facilitate consistent data receipt for newborn hearing screening.
• Reporter willingness to comply with reporting protocols is generally high.
• Targeted interventions are necessary to enhance data accuracy and completeness for specific high-risk infant groups.