Detecting, Measuring, and Finding Solutions for Hearing Impairment in Infants.

CHICAGO--(BW HealthWire)--Oct. 22, 1998--Hearing impairment in infants and toddlers may be one of the most under-recognized pediatric health problems today. Four out of every thousand babies born in the United States today will suffer from a permanent hearing impairment. This can seriously impede their ability to learn and develop normally.

Unfortunately, many of these hearing impaired children are only identified when they fail to reach developmental milestones. Recent research suggests that children who have a hearing loss identified early and begin wearing hearing instruments by 6 months of age are more likely to develop language skills at normal rates. That means they are able to keep up socially, academically and emotionally with their normal-hearing peers during crucial early stages of development.

The focus of this conference is how to best utilize the advanced technology and research to more accurately measure the degree of hearing loss in children and to pinpoint the appropriate solutions to help them maximize their potential. Most importantly it will help audiologists and other health care professionals learn how to more effectively integrate the family into the intervention process.

New screening techniques and new technologies are rapidly making universal pediatric screening practical and affordable for every hospital. These will be presented and discussed by an international panel of experts at the conference and at the press event.

Identifying the problem through universal screening is only the first step. Intervention in the form of hearing instruments and wireless communication systems that children and parents can use effectively is the next critical step in addressing this problem.

New hearing instrument technologies that use the latest in digitally programmable technology, micro-circuitry, and miniaturization solutions will be presented and discussed. This "next generation" of instruments will allow for improved pediatric intervention with more accurate amplification. The new range of instruments are not only more effective but easier for parents and children to use. This means that they can become an integral and largely transparent part of a child's life and development -- socially, emotionally and academically.

The conference is sponsored by Phonak, Inc., the US subsidiary of the Switzerland-based developer and manufacturer of advanced hearing technologies. The conference will run from October 29th through the 31st at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Chicago.

A press event will be held for editors, journalists, and other media representatives, where major international pediatric audiologists will be present and available for questions.

Press Event Logistics

     Location:          Sheraton Towers
                        301 E. North Water Street
                        Chicago, IL 60611
     Date:              October 30, 1998
     Begins:            12:15 PM


Press Event Agenda

     Opening Remarks:   Dr. Richard Seewald
     Video              "Identification and Treatment of Hearing
     Presentation:      Loss in Children"
     FM Demonstration:  World's Smallest Wireless Communication System
                        (US Introduction)
     Open Floor:        Questions and Answers

     (Lunch will be served.)


For further information contact:
Catherine Jennings-Melia
Phone:     [phone]
Fax:       [phone]
E-Mail:    [e-mail]

If you are unable to attend this press event but would
like to obtain the media kit, please contact:
Laura Hefka
Phone:     [phone]
Fax:       [phone]
E-Mail:    [e-mail]


References

1.  League for the Hard of Hearing website, www.lhh.org
2.  "Universal newborn hearing screening: The question is, not if, but
when?" Hearing Journal, July 1998, Vol. 51, No. 7, (pgs. 21 - 30, and
69). Judith Nemes