§285m–3 Multipurpose deafness and other communication disorders center

Summary

The Director of the Institute must, after talking with the Institute’s advisory council, set up, update, and run centers that study hearing and other communication problems. Modernization means changing, fixing, expanding, or adding equipment to buildings so they can be used as these centers. Each center must be run by one institution or a group of institutions and meet rules the Secretary sets. Centers must do basic and clinical research on causes, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, implants and devices, and related ear‑nose‑throat procedures. They must train doctors, scientists, and other health workers, teach and update clinicians, and give public information about early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, and avoiding harmful noise and toxins. Centers can pay stipends to trainees and run programs to test new detection methods, share results, and standardize patient records. The Institute must try to spread centers fairly across the country and pay special attention to the needs of older people and children. Support can last up to 7 years and may be extended in additional periods of up to 5 years if a peer review group recommends it.