(Rockville, MD - July 23, 2007) The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is one of six associations nationally to be selected by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) to receive its prestigious 2007 Summit Award.
ASHA won the award for its Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) campaign which promotes hearing screening of newborns at birth.
The highest honor for associations that implement innovative community-based programs, the Summit Award recognizes the very best efforts put forth by associations across the country in areas such as public education and information, economic development, business and social innovation, skills training/development and civic and volunteer activities. The six 2007 Summit Award winners were chosen from more than 250 entries received in the Associations Advance America Awards program this year.
"ASHA is a remarkable association by the many ways in which it advances the professions and advocates for those with communication disabilities," ASHA President Noma Anderson says. "It is wonderful that ASHA's efforts in the arena of early detection of hearing loss are recognized at this level."
The EHDI campaign reflects grassroots, volunteer leader, and national office staff contributions in helping lead the promotion of newborn hearing screening and intervention policies throughout the United States. The collective advocacy of over 30 national associations led by ASHA sends a clear message about the need for early hearing screening.
Over the course of the EHDI campaign, the reported number of newborns screened at birth has increased from 22% in 1999 to roughly 95% today. In 1988, the average age of children with identified congenital hearing loss was more than 3 years, with many children not being identified until ages 5 or 6. The current age at identification is 3 months old or less. With the assistance of ASHA and other associations, 46 states, 2 territories and the District of Columbia currently have EHDI laws or voluntary compliance programs that screen the hearing of infants.
"Because of the EHDI program many more children will be given the best possible start in life," ASHA Executive Director, Arlene Pietranton, notes.
ASHA, located in Rockville, Maryland, is the professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 127,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists in the United States and internationally. For more information on speech, language, and hearing disorders, consumers can log on to www.asha.org or call 1-800-638-TALK.
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