March of Dimes Implores Legislators to Vote in Favor of Hear... ( In continued fight for the health...)

March of Dimes Implores Legislators to Vote in Favor of Hearing Screen

Date:2/20/2008

In continued fight for the health of all babies, March of Dimes volunteers spend a day at the Capitol

ATLANTA, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The March of Dimes is making a House call -- House of Representatives that is. On February 21, 2008, the March of Dimes and volunteers from around the state will meet with legislators to discuss several issues, the most important of which is passage of House Bill 1177. This measure would require the state of Georgia to administer a hearing screen to all newborn infants.

Hearing is one of the 29 identifiable and treatable "core" disorders recommended for screening by the March of Dimes and the American College of Medical Geneticists (ACMG). Georgia currently requires screening for 28 and does not include hearing.

"Currently, 32 states and the District of Columbia require universal newborn hearing screening," says March of Dimes Georgia Chapter's State Director Mark Gibson. "It is critical that the state of Georgia step up and join the majority of the nation by providing the highest quality of care for all of our infants."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all babies be screened for hearing impairment before 1 month of age, preferably before they leave the hospital. Language and communication develop rapidly during the first two to three years of life, and undetected hearing impairment can lead to delays in developing these skills. Without newborn screening, children with hearing impairment usually are not diagnosed until 2 to 3 years of age.

House Bill 1177 is sponsored by Representative Judy Manning. In 2006, Representative Manning sponsored House Bill 1066, which expanded newborn screening to detect serious illnesses, severe disabilities, or potentially deadly genetic conditions that can be prevented if diagnosed and treated. House Bill 1066 was successfully passed in 2006.

In recent years, the March of Dimes has successfully l
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March of Dimes Implores Legislators to Vote in Favor of Hear...( In continued fight for the health...),Health