§285m–3 Multipurpose Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Center

Summary

The Director of the Institute must create, update, and run centers that study hearing and other communication problems after talking with the Institute’s advisory council. "Update" means changing, fixing, expanding, or adding equipment to buildings so they work for these centers. Each center must use the space of one institution or a group of cooperating institutions, and meet rules the Secretary sets. Each center must do basic and clinical research on causes, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, control, treatment, and complications of hearing and communication disorders, including work on rehab aids, implants, speech processors, speech devices, and other ear–throat procedures. Centers must train doctors, scientists, and other health workers, offer continuing education for professionals, and share information with the public about early detection, seeking treatment, rehabilitation, and avoiding harmful noise and environmental toxins. Centers can give stipends to trainees. They may also test and spread better ways to detect and diagnose problems and work to standardize patient data. The Director should place centers fairly around the country and consider special needs of the elderly and children. Support can last up to 7 years and may be renewed in one or more additional periods of not more than 5 years each if a technical peer review group (set up by the Director with the advisory council’s advice) recommends extension.