EHDI Annual Conference

Today, we honor Juneteenth and reflect on the importance of equity, access, and opportunity for all children and families.

NCHAM remains committed to supporting timely hearing screening, early identification, and access to the resources and services families need.

Learn more at infanthearing.org.

👂 Excuse me... did you know most babies receive a hearing screening before leaving the hospital?
Newborn hearing screening is quick, painless, and an important first step in identifying hearing differences early.
Early identification can help connect families with the resources, support, and follow-up services they may need.
💬 Were you aware that hearing screening is a routine part of newborn care?

💗 Accessibility isn't just about being present—it's about being able to fully participate.

Recently, actress and deaf advocate Marlee Matlin shared her experience attending a show at Sphere in Las Vegas, sparking important conversations about accessibility and inclusion.

Whether it's captions, assistive listening technology, interpreters, visual alerts, or other accommodations, accessibility helps create opportunities for everyone to fully engage and participate.

What accessibility feature has made the biggest difference for you or someone you know?

Thank you to everyone who joined our live conversation with Dr. Alyson Ward during CMV Awareness Month. 💗

A special thank you to Dr. Ward for sharing her expertise and helping us raise awareness about congenital CMV, newborn screening, and the importance of early identification.

Here are three key takeaways from our discussion. We hope these insights help raise awareness and encourage continued conversations about congenital CMV.

If you didn't get a chance to join us live, you can watch the recording on our page.
📍 NCHAM page

What was your biggest takeaway from the conversation?

💙 Meet Our Live Guest: Dr. Alyson Ward

Join us Wednesday, June 10 at 1:00 PM MT for a live conversation with Dr. Alyson Ward as we discuss congenital CMV, newborn screening, and the importance of early identification.

Dr. Ward is a Senior Researcher with the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice (IDRPP) at Utah State University. Her work focuses on improving maternal and child health outcomes through research, quality improvement, program evaluation, and community partnerships. She has collaborated with state and national programs across the country and is passionate about helping families access the information and services they need.

We're excited to learn from Dr. Ward during CMV Awareness Month and hope you'll join us for this important conversation.
📅 Wednesday, June 10
🕐 1:00 PM MT
@ The National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM)

💙 Did you know?

Congenital CMV is the most common infectious cause of childhood hearing loss.

Many babies with congenital CMV show no symptoms at birth, making awareness and early identification critical.

June is CMV Awareness Month. Throughout the month, we'll be sharing information and resources to help raise awareness about congenital CMV and the importance of early identification.

💙 We'd like you to meet Deb Eskelson!

If you've ever needed advice, a connection, a listening ear, or just someone who knows the answer, chances are Deb is the person to ask. 😊 One of Deb's favorite sayings is, "A jack of all trades is a master of none, though oftentimes better than a master of one." Anyone who knows Deb knows that's pretty fitting. A longtime Cache Valley resident, Deb is known for her deep community connections. Whether she's helping a customer, supporting a coworker, or sharing knowledge on just about any topic, she's always willing to jump in and help.

Deb has been with Utah State University for more than 30 years, but her Aggie roots run even deeper than that. Her parents were USU students and were part of the student group that helped install the student section seating in the Spectrum so students would have seats instead of sitting on the concrete. Her sister was a student-athlete, and multiple family members have worked at the university. Supporting Aggie athletics has been a family tradition for generations. In fact, if there's an Aggie football or basketball game, chances are you'll find Deb and her family there cheering from the stands. They're proud Aggies through and through.

When Deb isn't supporting HiTrack, her coworkers, or the Aggie community, she's spending time with her favorite people—her family. She loves attending the events and activities of her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, whether that's sports, dance, or simply spending time together playing cards, board games, or puzzles.

And somewhere in between all that, she still manages to find time for a little quilting too.

Thank you, Deb, for the knowledge, kindness, and support you bring to NCHAM every day. 💙

🎉 P.S. It's also Deb's birthday this week! If you see her around, be sure to wish her a happy birthday or send her a quick note to help celebrate her special day. 🎂