2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
| Connecting the Dots: Results from a Provider Needs Assessment and Implications for the EHDI System
Connecting the Dots: Results from a Provider Needs Assessment and Implications for the EHDI System
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Provider Education Center (EHDI PEC) is a 5-year cooperative agreement supported by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The EHDI PEC aims to enhance the confidence and training of providers involved in screening, diagnosing, and providing services to infants, children, and families within the EHDI system.
In 2024, the EHDI PEC fielded a provider needs assessment survey and hosted a series of key informant interviews aimed at evaluating the knowledge, confidence, and capacity of healthcare providers in caring for children who are D/HH within the EHDI system of services. The needs assessment focused on key topics essential to the EHDI system, including the early identification, diagnosis, referral, and follow-up care of children who are D/HH. Over 700 providers completed the survey, with representation from all 50 states and 1 territory. A total of 8 key informant interviews were completed. A wide range of providers participated in these activities, including primary care providers, pediatric subspecialists, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and other early intervention providers.
This session will present findings from the provider needs assessment, including an overview of current knowledge and confidence among providers in caring for children who are D/HH and implications of this level of knowledge/confidence for EHDI system partners. The session will discuss gaps in knowledge/confidence based on needs assessment findings, and identify opportunities for EHDI programs and other EHDI system partners to increase knowledge/confidence among providers. Specific examples of education and training opportunities will be outlined, including current and future efforts of the EHDI PEC. Policy and practice implications across the EHDI system will be highlighted, including opportunities related to research and partnerships. Finally, the session will offer practical strategies for EHDI programs and others in the EHDI system to effectively engage providers in their efforts.
- Understand provider knowledge and confidence related to the care of children who are D/HH and subsequent implications for the EHDI system.
- Describe opportunities to increase knowledge and confidence of providers in enhancing care for children who are D/HH and their families.
- Identify strategies to effectively engage providers throughout the EHDI system to enhance care for children who are D/HH and their families.
Presentation:
View Presentation File
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Alex Kuznetsov
(Primary Presenter), American Academy of Pediatrics, akuznetsov@aap.org;
Alex is the Senior Manager, Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). In this role she manages two AAP membership groups: the Council on Children with Disabilities and the Section on Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Additionally, Alex manages grant-supported activities related to improving the system of services for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) including the Blueprint National Center and the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Provider Education Center. Alex has worked at the Academy for over 11 years in various positions on the Academy’s CYSHCN Initiatives team and greatly enjoys her work with dedicated pediatricians, families/caregivers, and other CYSHCN advocates. Prior to joining the AAP, Alex served as a community health development agent with the United States Peace Corps in Burkina Faso, West Africa.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.