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On Thursday, December 22, President Obama signed the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Act of 2010 (H.R. 1246/S. 3199) into law. The bill, which was passed earlier this month by the Senate, was passed by the House on December 15.
AG Bell President Kathleen Treni welcomed the news, stating "On behalf of the thousands of children and their families who are affected by hearing loss each year, I applaud the U.S. Congress and President Obama for securing one of the most effective public health initiatives for children in the United States. As an educational leader in public schools and someone who lives with hearing loss, I know that early hearing detection and intervention ensures that families get vital information regardless of the communication outcome they choose - putting those families and their children on a path to success. For families that choose listening and spoken language, this program is critical to early access to language development through diagnosis, advanced hearing technology and working alongside a qualified professional."
The legislation reauthorizes and expands EHDI legislation passed nearly 10 years ago, increasing state funding for follow-up services to ensure that babies initially identified with a potential hearing loss receive full diagnostic evaluations and, if necessary, are enrolled in early intervention programs. The act also promotes culturally sensitive family support services. AG Bell has been actively advocating for passage of this legislation as part of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Alliance, the lead advocacy coalition behind the bill.
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