Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)
Hearing loss is the most common congenital condition in the United States. Each year, an estimated three in 1000 infants are born in the US with moderate, severe, or profound hearing loss. Children with hearing loss experience delayed development in language, learning, and speech. Children that are hearing impaired should be identified as quickly as possible after birth so that appropriate services can be started and assistive listening devices can be obtained if appropriate.
In 2001 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) implemented a program, Improving the Effectiveness of Newborn Hearing Screening, Diagnosis, and Intervention through the Medical Home, funded through a cooperative agreement from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) respectively, for the planning, ongoing mangement, and implementation of its Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program, focused on increasing the involvement of primary care pediatricians and other child health care providers by linking follow-up services more closely to the newborn's medical home. As part of EHDI and this program, the AAP has worked to identify one pediatrician in each chapter to champion this cause. Since 2001, more than 60 chapter champions have been identified and are actively participating in the program at the national and state/chapter levels.
Improving the System of Care for Infants and Children with Early Hearing Loss
A supplement to the August 2010 issue of Pediatrics features a series of articles highlighting the challenges that remain to be addressed to ensure early diagnosis and intervention for all children with early hearing loss. In a forward to the supplement, Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop reflects on how far we have come in implementing the screening program, and expresses optimism that remaining problems can be solved through collaborative efforts, data-driven quality improvement activities, and creative uses of new technology.
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The newly revised Childhood Hearing: A Sound Foundation in the Medical Home PediaLink module content was developed by nationally and internationally renowned pediatricians and audiologists, and is presented in an interactive and informative manner, including engaging vignettes, multimedia, and resources you can personalize and download for your office. You can participate in this module from the convenience of your own office or home. To register, visit www.PediaLink.org.
Learn about:
- Different types of hearing loss
- Screening methods for hearing loss
- Medical and genetic risk factors
- The importance of early recognition and ongoing surveillance
- The role of the medical home in hearing screening
AAP Member: $80 registration fee
Non-member: $96 registration fee
Earn a maximum of 4 AMA PRA Category 1TM credits.
This course was funded through a cooperative agreement with the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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How Medical and Other Health Professionals Can Help Increase the Number of Infants Who Return for a Follow-up Evaluation 
AAP Periodicity Schedule
State Summary Statistics—Universal Newborn Hearing Screening
National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management
Can Your Baby Hear: Your Baby's First Hearing Test | Spanish
MCHB/HRSA and health literacy researchers at Louisiana State University
Your Baby Needs Another Hearing Test: Finding Hearing Loss Early Can Make A Big Difference In Your Baby's Life | Spanish
MCHB/HRSA and health literacy researchers at Louisiana State University
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State EHDI programs promote universal newborn hearing screening, develop effective tracking and follow-up as a part of the public health system, promote appropriate and timely diagnosis of hearing loss, prompt enrollment in appropriate Early Intervention, ensure a medical home for all newborns and strive to eliminate geographic and financial barriers to service access. Early Intervention (Part C of IDEA) is a federal grant program that assists states in operating a comprehensive statewide program of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, ages birth through age 2 years, and their families.
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The EHDI E-mail Express is a monthly e-newsletter from the AAP Improving the Effectiveness of Newborn Hearing Screening, Diagnosis and Intervention through the Medical Home project funded through a cooperative agreement with the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD). It is designed to provide AAP EHDI Chapter Champions and EHDI stakeholders with resources and current clinical and other relevant information. The EHDI E-Mail Express is published on a monthly basis. Please feel free to share the EHDI E-Mail Express with colleagues working on or interested in childhood hearing detection and intervention issues.
2010 Issues
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2011 Issues
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2012 Issues
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 The JCIH is a multidisciplinary group of representatives from sixth organizations: the AAP, the American Speech-Hearing-Language Association, the American Academy of Audiology, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the Directors of Speech and Hearing Programs in State Health and Welfare Agencies, and the Council on Education for the Deaf. The AAP has two official representatives on JCIH. The primary purpose of JCIH has been/is the publication of position statements summarizing the state of science and art from infant hearing, and recommending the preferred practice in the early identification and appropriate intervention of newborns and infants at risk for or with hearing loss.
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The AAP Task Force on Newborn and Infant Hearing has developed educational materials for both professional and public audiences.
The easy-to-follow flowchart can serve as guidelines for pediatric primary care providers and others involved in the medical care of infants and young children and their hearing health. This resource provides a step-by-step guide on hearing screening, diagnosis and management from birth through 6 months of age and beyond. The resource also provides detailed information about ongoing hearing, speech and language related care for all infants, as well as a template for use by physicians' offices to easily customize patient referral information. A listing of national resources on early hearing detection and intervention is also included.
These guidelines are a handy practice resource that can be printed from the AAP Web site, reproduced, and kept in office examining rooms for convenient reference. They were developed in collaboration with the National Center on Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) with funding from an educational grant from the MCHB/HRSA/HHS.
- Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, Diagnosis, and Intervention Patient Checklist for Pediatric Medical Home Providers
The AAP has developed a patient chart checklistfor medical home providers that allows health care professionals to track hospital-based inpatient hearing screening results, outpatient hearing screening results, information from the pediatric audiologic evaluation, ongoing audiologic services, enrollment in early intervention services, and medical evaluation results in one place in their patient’s chart. The checklist includes an easy-to-use guide to ensure that the child is linked with appropriate services and that the necessary evaluations are coordinated. It also provides space for you to record relevant service provider contact information.
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American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) Statement: Genetics Evaluation Guidelines for the Etiologic Diagnosis of Congenital Hearing Loss
The advent of hearing screening in newborns in many states has led to an increase in the use of genetic testing and related genetic services in the follow-up of infants with hearing loss. A significant proportion of those with congenital hearing loss have genetic etiologies underlying their hearing loss. To ensure that those identified with congenital hearing loss receive the genetic services appropriate to their conditions, the MCHB/HRSA funded the ACMG to convene an expert panel to develop guidelines for the genetic evaluation of congenital hearing loss. This resource provides a brief overview of the current knowledge of hearing loss, newborn screening, and newborn hearing screening, an overview of genetic services and a guideline that describes how best to ensure that patients receive appropriate genetic services.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hearing Loss in Children
This Web site on hearing loss in children contains specific pages for families, health care providers, EHDI programs, and national partners. The site contains statistical data on hearing loss, and information on prevention, signs and symptoms, screening and diagnosis, and treatment of hearing loss. An overview of CDC and other partners’ initiatives, as well as updates from research projects and scientific publications can also be found on the new site.
Denial Management and Contract Negotiation for Hearing Screening Services
Strategies and a template letter for pediatric practices to handle payer denials and contractual issues. In addition, it provides diagnosis and procedure codes, including Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) Level II Procedure and Supply Codes with vignettes of common scenarios encountered by primary care providers related to hearing.
- Pediatric Resource Guide to Infant and Childhood Hearing Loss
Center for Early Intervention on Deafness (CEID)
The 2nd edition of the CEID Pediatric Resource Guide to Infant and Childhood Hearing Loss is a comprehensive resource for pediatric providers working in all settings who need quick and accurate information regarding newborn hearing screening laws, screening and diagnostic evaluations, referrals procedures, timelines, and amplification and cochlear options, Early Start and educational services, recent findings on genetic syndromes and environmental etiologies and special considerations for the child who has a unilateral or mild hearing loss. The CEID resource guide will help providers remain current on issues related to hearing loss in infants and young children. To order the resource guide, call 510/848-4800, extension 319. You can also download information from the CEID Web site.
- Just in Time Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Educational Kit
This FREE educational kit is a handy practice resource that helps provide hearing health care for the infant and children. Just in Time materials can assist practices in meeting the goals of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI). For more information, or a hard copy of the Just in Time materials, please email the CDC at: ehdi@cdc.gov or visit the CDC Web site.
- Video Scrapbook from National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management
NCHAM took the opportunity during the 2003 EHDI Conference to interview and videotape a number of dedicated parents and professionals sharing a variety of perspectives on the status of EHDI efforts and the ongoing challenges and opportunities we face. NCHAM has distilled these interviews into a series of short clips of powerful statements on the importance of EHDI.
- Newborn Hearing Screening Video: Giving Your Baby a Sound Beginning
National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management
This six-minute video was developed in collaboration with the AAP and introduces parents to the importance of having their newborns screened for hearing loss. This video is ideal for educating parents in prenatal classes, birthing hospitals, and other health care and educational settings. Download the video free of charge or order your own VHS copy for $15 from NCHAM by email or phone at: nchamhelp@usu.edu or 435/797-3584. Video is Available in English and Spanish.
- EHDI PowerPoint Presentations (Sample Presentation)
These video clips provide you with a "library" of viewpoints and statements that can be used for national, state, and local EHDI presentations. This sample presentation can be downloaded and reformat to meet your individual needs.
Hearing Screening Coding Fact Sheet for Primary Care Providers
American Academy of Pediatrics
While coding for hearing screening is relatively straightforward, ensuring that appropriate payment is received for such services is a more complicated matter. This coding fact sheet provides a guide to coding for pediatric hearing screening. While the fact sheet provides suggested codes, it should be noted that payer recognition of codes may vary.
It's Natural to Want to Know about Your Baby's Hearing
National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management
This video promotes family awareness of their newborn's hearing screening result.
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