Roby, Brianne

ABSTRACT Objective Identifying and addressing pediatric hearing loss is critical to supporting a child's development. School‐based hearing screening is a mainstay of timely identification of hearing loss. The objectives of this study were to characterize the current hearing screening practices in public, charter, and private elementary schools in Minnesota. Methods This was a cross‐sectional survey with data collected between March and June 2023. Surveys assessed the presence of standardized hearing screening processes and compliance with American Academy of Audiology (AAA) or Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines. Results About 146 public schools, 43 charter schools, and 60 private schools met inclusion criteria and responded to the survey. There was a statistically significant difference in the rate of standardized screening between school types ( χ 2 = 18.06; p < 0.001). Only 10.44% ( n = 26) of schools completed hearing screenings per AAA guidelines, and even fewer, 4.82% ( n = 12), completed hearing screenings according to MDH guidelines. The odds of screening per AAA or MDH guidelines were 3.50 times higher in charter schools compared to public schools (95% CI: 1.14, 10.73) and 4.61 times higher in private schools compared to public schools (95% CI: 1.73, 12.26). Conclusion There is a lack of standardization in hearing screening processes in Minnesota elementary schools. Adherence to screening per AAA or MDH recommendations is low in all types of elementary schools. Charter and private schools were more likely than public schools to screen per AAA or MDH guidelines. Overall, our data demonstrate an opportunity for improvement in school‐based hearing screening. Level of Evidence N/A.

ABSTRACT Objective This study aims to explore whether racial identity or socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with growth trajectory before and after palatoplasty. Methods This study was a single‐site retrospective chart review at a tertiary pediatric hospital. This study involved children with cleft palate repaired between 2006 and 2022. Primary outcomes were changes in growth trajectories before and after palatoplasty stratified by race and median neighborhood income (MNI) as a measure of SES. Results In the data query, 187 and 149 patients met the inclusion criteria for the racial identity and MNI analyses, respectively. The median pre‐ and post‐surgical weekly weight gain was 0.11 kg/wk. and 0.05 kg/wk. for patients who are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) ( p = < 0.0001), and 0.12 and 0.07 kg/wk. for patients who are White ( p = < 0.0001). Change in median growth percentile following palatoplasty was significant for patients who are White but was not significant for patients who are BIPOC. MNI displayed a significant relationship with weekly weight gain and growth percentile changes following palatoplasty. Conclusion Patient racial identity is associated with clinically meaningful differences in growth trajectory outcomes following palatoplasty. While growth outcomes may differ across MNI, living in areas with higher MNI does not directly translate to improved growth trajectories following palatoplasty. Addressing all social determinants of health in this population is critical, but interventions should focus on supporting racial minorities as they experience the most significant disparities. Level of Evidence 3.