In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program is proud to announce Nationwide Children’s Hospital as an Innovative and Promising Practice, focused on systems of care for children and families who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH). The Ohio Department of Health formed an audiology work group to develop guidelines for diagnostic centers who provide infant audiologic assessment recognizing the growing issue of reduced follow-up after referral on the newborn hearing screening due to severe restriction of outpatient services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the second in a series of practices sharing innovative tools and strategies to support families of children who are D/HH. Strategies for how pediatricians can support this work are highlighted. For more information on the AAP EHDI program, visit aap.org/ehdi.

Interested in replicating this Innovative and Promising Practice in your practice? Contact aapehdi@aap.org to learn more about next steps