Strengthening Systems Through Provider Education: Highlights from the AAP Alabama Chapter EHDI Project

Background

In 2025 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Provider Education Center (EHDI PEC) awarded a grant to the Alabama Chapter of the AAP (AL-AAP) to increase the capacity of the Chapter in enhancing partnerships between pediatric providers and other EHDI system partners. AL-AAP efforts included initiatives to improve knowledge among pediatric providers about the care of deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children, the EHDI system, and related supports/services.

Key Partners

AL-AAP engaged several partners to support this work, including:

• Pediatrician members/leaders within AL-AAP
• Alabama State EHDI Program
• Alabama Hands & Voices Chapter
• Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

AL-AAP met monthly with their partners and ensured that they were involved in the development and implementation of project initiatives from the beginning.

Project Successes

• Interdisciplinary Education Panel at AL-AAP Annual Meeting: AL-AAP hosted an interdisciplinary educational panel at their annual meeting, which offered Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit to providers. The educational panel aimed to increase awareness about the care of DHH children among AL-AAP members of Alabama’s EHDI system, relevant partners, and pediatricians.
• An AL-AAP pediatrician member facilitated the panel, which included an audiologist, Alabama’s state EHDI coordinator, a representative from Alabama Hands & Voices, and a pediatric rheumatologist who was also the parent of a child who is DHH.
• Audience members participated in a Q&A with the panel, which included a discussion of more complex cases related to DHH children.
• A panel discussion guide is available to download here and can be adapted by other states.

Process Map/EHDI 1-3-6 Guidance for Medical Home Providers

During the panel presentation, audience members were given copies of an EHDI process map to provide an overview of the EHDI 1-3-6 benchmarks for primary care providers. The process map offered a tangible resource for participating providers to take back their practices. 

Social Media Toolkit

The AL-AAP developed a social media toolkit aimed at pediatric providers and caregivers regarding the importance of early identification and referral within the EHDI system. The toolkit will be shared when available. 

Preliminary Results

Since the AL-AAP annual meeting in September 2025, there has been an increase in referrals to audiology made by pediatricians across the state, with data indicating a timelier follow-up. 

Lessons Learned

• Allow Time for Meaningful Partnership Building: AL-AAP credits the success of this project in part to the strength of partnerships that have been built over many years between the AAP Chapter and EHDI program partners. The Alabama EHDI Program, AL-AAP, and Alabama Hands & Voices have strong ties due to the longevity of leadership in these organizations and joint participation in the Alabama EHDI Steering Committee.
• Meet Providers Where They Are: The AL-AAP annual meeting provided an ideal opportunity to reach pediatrician audiences. Hosting an educational panel at this event guaranteed an opportunity to engage pediatricians in EHDI system efforts.
• Ensure Panelist Experiences Resonate with the Intended Audience: The AL-AAP educational panel included leadership from a pediatrician member and leader within the AL-AAP. Additional panel members included individuals with lived experience, including parents of DHH children. Engaging these important EHDI system leaders in the panel discussion helped ground the conversation in real life EHDI practice.

Next Steps and Opportunities

• AL-AAP identified future opportunities for engagement with Early Intervention (EI) as representatives from EI could not attend the panel. AL-AAP is working with their state EHDI program to build partnerships with EI.
• AL-AAP will be releasing a podcast episode featuring the pediatrician member who facilitated the interdisciplinary panel at their annual meeting.
• Additional statewide initiatives are in development to strengthen the state’s EHDI system, including a mobile audiology van to support access to diagnostic evaluation services for children/families in rural areas