1. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) and EHDI Research Amy Donahue, Ph.D. Marin Allen, Ph.D.

2. Much of the biomedical research in the United States is supported by the Federal Government, primarily the Much of the biomedical research in the United States is supported by the Federal Government, primarily the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institutes of Health (NIH)

3. NIDCD and EHDI Active research programs in many areas relating to HL in infants and children, and we will continue and foster more Active research programs in many areas relating to HL in infants and children, and we will continue and foster more We set aside money to fund special initiatives We set aside money to fund special initiatives The audiology, speech pathology, and medical communities are actively engaged The audiology, speech pathology, and medical communities are actively engaged Seeking answers to the changing issues and questions before us Seeking answers to the changing issues and questions before us

4. Areas of Research Cochlear Implants Cochlear Implants Hearing Aids Hearing Aids Normal Auditory Development Normal Auditory Development Auditory Disorders Auditory Disorders Auditory Diagnostic Tests Auditory Diagnostic Tests Speech and Lang Dev in Infants and Children Speech and Lang Dev in Infants and Children Acquisition of American Sign Lang Acquisition of American Sign Lang

5. Special EHDI Initiatives Intervention Strategies Following Early Identification of HI Intervention Strategies Following Early Identification of HI Genetic Testing and the Clinical Management of Infants with Nonsyndromic HI Genetic Testing and the Clinical Management of Infants with Nonsyndromic HI Auditory/Perceptual Processing in Infants with HI: Issues in Assessment and Management Auditory/Perceptual Processing in Infants with HI: Issues in Assessment and Management

6. Health Communication Research to investigate methods to inform the public and to be used with public health and professional audiences in disseminating information. Research to investigate methods to inform the public and to be used with public health and professional audiences in disseminating information. Resources for infants with newly identified HL (Boystown, Univ Arkansas, Childrens Hospital Philadelphia) as well as the NIDCD website Resources for infants with newly identified HL (Boystown, Univ Arkansas, Childrens Hospital Philadelphia) as well as the NIDCD website

7. Congenital Cytomegalovirus Current initiative calls for a seven year study Current initiative calls for a seven year study To evaluate presence of CMV and long-term audiologic/otologic outcome To evaluate presence of CMV and long-term audiologic/otologic outcome To address clinical validity and utility of CMV screening in the detection of HI in the newborn and well as prediction of later onset HL after newborn period To address clinical validity and utility of CMV screening in the detection of HI in the newborn and well as prediction of later onset HL after newborn period

8. NIDCD Office of Health Communication and Public Liaison Labor Day initiative started this year. Radio and print articles distributed on follow- through to national audience for the first time. August is the month the most babies are born in the U.S. Labor Day weekend reminder about follow through (and testing) for parents, grandparents and friends of newborns. More to come in 2004... Labor Day initiative started this year. Radio and print articles distributed on follow- through to national audience for the first time. August is the month the most babies are born in the U.S. Labor Day weekend reminder about follow through (and testing) for parents, grandparents and friends of newborns. More to come in 2004...

12. Disseminated syndicated articles in English and Spanish Bring Those Babies Back (Early ID Follow-through) Bring Those Babies Back (Early ID Follow-through) new release has already generated 16 newspaper articles new release has already generated 16 newspaper articles & Spanish version (just released) Pointers for Parents, Will Your Babys Hearing Be Screened? generated 220 newspaper articles in 27 states with a readership of 15.2 million to Jan 2004. Pointers for Parents, Will Your Babys Hearing Be Screened? generated 220 newspaper articles in 27 states with a readership of 15.2 million to Jan 2004. Pointers for Parents, Spanish Language article Consejos para los padres generated 124 newspaper articles in 9 states with a readership of 8.7 million to Jan 2004. Pointers for Parents, Spanish Language article Consejos para los padres generated 124 newspaper articles in 9 states with a readership of 8.7 million to Jan 2004.

13. Emphasizing... Health Literacy Health Literacy Cultural Competency Cultural Competency Support for decision-making Support for decision-making

14. In the end… NIDCD will continue to work with our federal partners to support the EHDI mission But EHDI could not, and will not, happen without you…working diligently in your home state. As your colleague, I thank you… And wish you a productive conference!