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HARRY HUGHES, Governor 2279
1. (PKU) Hereditary hereditary metabolic disorders
(including Mental Retardation) including PKU, and
Hypothyroidism ;
2. Gonorrheal vision impairment; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly of Maryland enacted a law in
1982 providing the parents of children with any one of 12
sentinel birth defects with information and providing numerical
information to the State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene;
and
WHEREAS, Early screening for auditory defects is not
currently provided for despite the fact that auditory defects
have a higher incidence than those which are presently mandated;
and
WHEREAS, An estimated 6.8 percent of the approximately
61,000 annual live births in this State will eventually suffer a
hearing impairment; and
WHEREAS, With early identification and follow-up of a
child's hearing impairment, an effective communication system can
be developed, significantly enhancing the quality of a child's
life and his adult potential, and therefore reducing the
potential burden to society; and
WHEREAS, The handicap of the majority of hearing-impaired
children is one of communication and not of intellect and,
therefore, they are capable, with appropriate and timely
intervention, of becoming gainfully employed, productive members
of society; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the direct assistance to the
children identified, early identification will provide valuable
information which can be used by the State for future planning;
and
WHEREAS, Fifteen other states have already established early
identification and follow-up systems; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the State
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene develop and implement
procedures for the identification, for present or potential
hearing impairment at birth and follow up of infants who have or
may develop a hearing impairment; such procedures are to be in
accordance with the guidelines established by the 1982 Joint
Committee on Infant Hearing; and be it further
RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the State
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene develop procedures for a
program for the identification of present or potential hearing
impairment at birth and follow-up for infants who have or may
develop a hearing impairment; and be it further
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