Medical Home Care for Children with Deafness and Hearing Problems

Since 2001, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has advocated for improving the effectiveness of early hearing screening, diagnosis, and intervention (EHDI) and reducing hearing health disparities through the medical home model of care (MHMOC). However, the scope of the MHMOC and its components and potential disparities among US children with deafness or hearing problems (DHH) have not been identified.

Data from the 2016 to 2020 National Survey of Children's Health (N = 174 551) were analyzed, including 12 121 children with DHH, 171 523 children without DHH, and 38 722 with other special health needs (SHCN). Univariable statistics and multivariable logistic regression were used to analyze the association of hearing problems with medical home composite and components and cohort disparities.

After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, medical home care was less likely for children with DHH (adjusted odds ratio: 0.74; 95% confidence interval: 0.56-0.97) compared with children without DHH. Children with DHH and SHCN were also less likely to receive medical home care compared with other SHCN children (adjusted odds ratio: 0.71; 95% confidence interval: 0.55-0.92). Specific medical home components significantly less prevalent among children with DHH included family-centered care, ease of referrals, and effective care coordination, whereas a usual source for sick care was more prevalent, although not statistically significant.

Despite over two decades of efforts to improve EHDI through the medical home, rates of the MHMOC for children with DHH remain disparately low. Systems-level quality improvement efforts supporting the medical home will be necessary to allow the MHMOC to support early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) systems.