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From Hearing Health Magazine: Feb. 21, 02 -- Funding for support of Early
Hearing Detection and Intervention (EDHI) programs would be cut completely
with passage of the proposed 2003 federal budget currently on the table.
Millions of babies born with impaired hearing or deafness could go
undetected, negatively affecting their language development, educational
success, employment opportunities and more. Deletion of key monies for the
Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention would undermine EDHI programs nationwide. Even with federal
government support, momentum has slowed in recent months: while 65% of all
newborns were screened in May 2001, only 67% are being screened as of Dec
2001. Experts say that cutting support for states at this critical point
will jeopardize all of the headway that has been made. Rep. James Walsh,
R-NY, Congressional leader on the issue, declares, "I want to continue to
support this effort as we have made good progress but we have a lot more
work to do." Joining him and other concerned legislators are advocacy and
healthcare groups, all marshalling forces to lead the fight for
reinstatement of funding. Stay tuned.
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