Port Angeles: New testing program at hospital benefits newborns

From: Port Angeles Peninsula Daily News, WA - 17 Dec 2002

by BRENDA HANRAHAN

PORT ANGELES -- The new year will bring new methods of hearing screening for babies born in Clallam County.

The first baby born in 2003 will be given a hearing test as part of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program at Olympic Medical Center.

Hospital officials have been trying to bring the program to Clallam County for about three years.

``It is so important for parents to know if their child can hear,'' said Mary Buck, a registered nurse and local coordinator of the Newborn Hearing Screening Program at Olympic Medical Center.

Many parents do not identify hearing problems until their children are 18 months to 2 years of age, Buck said.

``This testing can make a difference because it is informative and will let parents know if their child is deaf or has hearing problems,'' she said, ``so they will not fall behind with their language skills.''

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