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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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