Health

• Sep 26, 2005 8:21 am US/Eastern
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  A Closer Look At A Common Birth Defect

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A Closer Look At A Common Birth Defect

NEW YORK (CBS) ― The New York City League for the Hard of Hearing has been helping both kids and adults with hearing loss for the last 94 years. Their speech program is entirely oral based, meaning the kids learn to speak instead of using sign language. Early diagnosis of hearing loss and early intervention are crucial for language development. To help make that happen, the League recently launched a mobile unit called project path. It stands for Preschool Access To Hearing.
Lorie Hanin, the executive director of the League, says "We're getting the opportunity for screening children who either were not screened at birth or perhaps screened and then developed a hearing loss later on."
And if it's picked up early, anything is possible.
"The sky is the limit…there's absolutely nothing that these kids can't do," says Nancy Geller, a speech pathologist and the director of communications.
New York is one of 39 states that requires a newborn screening exam before a baby leaves the hospital.
But there are conditions where hearing loss occurs over time, so if you suspect something, don't hesitate to have it evaluated.

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