HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 98-4745, by Representatives Conway, Cody, Mason, Regala, Talcott and Linville

      WHEREAS, The National Institutes of Health Consensus Development conference on early identification of hearing impairment has convened to express the need in the United States for the early identification of hearing impairment in infants and young children; and

      WHEREAS, They have shown that approximately one of every one thousand children is born deaf and many more with significant, yet less severe, degrees of hearing impairment; and

      WHEREAS, The conference findings clearly show that reduced hearing acuity during infancy and early childhood interferes with the development of speech and verbal language skills and can have harmful effects on social, emotional, cognitive, and academic development as well as a person's vocational and economic potential; and

      WHEREAS, The National Institutes of Health Consensus is in general agreement that hearing impairment should be recognized as early as possible, so that the remediation process can take full advantage of the plasticity of the developing sensory systems and so that the child can enjoy normal social development; and

      WHEREAS, Leading health care professionals now recommend that universal screening be implemented for all infants within the first three months of life as an important adjunct to child health care;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the efforts of the National Institutes of Health Consensus Development conference on early identification to stress the importance and need for universal hearing tests for all infants within the first three months; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the National Institutes of Health Consensus Development conference on early identification of hearing impairment.

      I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

      Resolution 4745 adopted by the House of Representatives

                          March 12, 1998.

                 ________________________________

                  Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk