Designing Health Communities:
Raising Healthy Kids
National Public Health Week in April focused on Designing Health Communities: Raising Healthy Kids”. For more information go to these websites:
Screening babies at birth for treatable metabolic disorders and hearing loss is an important first step families can take to raising healthy kids. As many as 30 babies are born in Alaska each year with hearing loss. That is why it is important to test all newborn babies for hearing loss before they leave the hospital. If your baby can’t hear well, he/she may have problems learning to talk. If you find a hearing loss early, your child will have the best chance to learn. For more information about early hearing detection and intervention, check out www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/ehdi/default.htm.
Universal newborn hearing screening is a screen that will check if your baby’s hearing is normal or whether more testing is needed. The screen does not hurt, is quick and easy, and will be performed by a trained person. If your birthing facility does not offer newborn hearing screening, ask your health care provider to refer you to a place that does. For facts about newborn screening, refer to the Newborn Screening Fact Sheet.
Current legislation under review can be viewed at HB 109: Screening Newborns for Hearing Ability.
The Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education has included HB 109: Screening Newborns for Hearing Ability as a legislative priority which can be viewed on their website.
Oral health is equally important as children begin to get teeth. Check out these programs and more on the Section of WCFH website.
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