Hearing Health Community Joins NCHH & AAP for Hearing Healthy Kids Day 2002

WASHINGTON, DC -- The third annual Hearing Healthy Kids Day - the National Campaign for Hearing Health's third annual update on the state of newborn hearing screening in America - is truly a cooperative effort. In addition to the title partner - the American Academy of Pediatrics - Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. signed on as the premier sponsor of Hearing Healthy Kids Day 2002. The American Academy of Audiology, Advanced Bionics Corporation, Grason-Stadler (GSI), and Med-El are lending their support as "Red Ribbon" Corporate Partners, and other prominent national organizations including the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Boys Town National Research Hospital, JACO Enterprises, Inc., Mack's Earplugs, and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders are donating items for goody bags to be distributed at the May 21st event, which includes a press event on Capitol Hill and free children's fair for the general public on the grounds of the Washington Monument on the National Mall. Free hearing screenings at the fair will be provided by Nova Southeastern University Programs in Audiology.

"Each year we try to expand the day to increase awareness of the importance of early hearing detection and intervention among a larger and larger audience," says Kiersten Tomchik, Director of Corporate and Media Relations at the National Campaign for Hearing Health. "This year, thanks in large part to our corporate sponsors, we have added a free children's fair on the National Mall for the general public, where we will provide free hearing screenings, goody bags filled with information, earplugs and fun toys for kids, and even entertainment for kids and parents to enjoy together. We are truly grateful to our corporate partners for helping us raise awareness of such an important - and often overlooked - children's healthcare issue."

The press event begins at 10:00 am in SR-485 in the Russell Senate Office Building. Speakers include:

Representative Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT)

Congressional Hearing Health Caucus Co-Chairs: Representative Jim Walsh (R-NY), author of the Walsh Bill and Representative Jim Ryun (R-KS)

Louis Z. Cooper, M.D., President of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Kassie & Jim DePaiva, One Life to Live actors and parents of a child with hearing loss

Karl White, Ph.D., National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management

Elizabeth E. Thorp, Director, National Campaign for Hearing Health

Dr. Elvir Causevic, GSI AUDIOScreener™

The press event will be followed by the free children's fair from noon to four on the grounds of the Washington Monument on the National Mall.

About Hearing Healthy Kids Day:
Hearing Healthy Kids is a comprehensive public awareness campaign to educate health care providers, national policy makers, parents, and other concerned community members about what it means to raise a hearing healthy child.

The primary purpose of Hearing Healthy Kids Day is to give a state-by-state scientific update on infant hearing screening, and to issue a call to action to preserve and safeguard federal infant hearing screening funds that are currently in jeopardy. The 2001 UNHS data will be presented by Karl White of the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) at Utah State University. With the assistance of NCHAM, the National Campaign for Hearing Health monitors and evaluates newborn hearing screening, tracks the progress of states in legislating and implementing infant screening programs, and advocates for the availability of and access to treatment and intervention options for children with hearing loss.

About the National Campaign for Hearing Health:
The National Campaign for Hearing Health, sponsored by the Deafness Research Foundation, is committed to putting hearing health on the national agenda. The Campaign is working to raise awareness of hearing issues, improve options for those living with hearing loss, and to protect those at risk. By advocating for detection, prevention, intervention and research, the Campaign promotes hearing health for all. For more information please contact Elizabeth Thorp at 202-289-5850 ext. 1008, or visit www.hearinghealth.net.