As Chairman of the Australasian Newborn Hearing Screening Committee I am acutely aware of the demands for earlier and more applied strategies for monitoring children’s development at very early periods in their growth. Early and effective assessment of children’s developmental progress is imperative in order to ensure that all of the interventions being pursued are actually achieving the desired and expected outcomes. The benefits of earlier intervention may be squandered if progress is assumed and alternative interventions are not considered until lack of progress is identified at a much later time through standardized assessments of linguistic development.
Like just about everything in a “post newborn hearing screening era”, the need for very early monitoring of children’s vocal communication development places demands on knowledge and capabilities that were not previously made of professionals in the field of early intervention. The tools for monitoring auditory-oral skill development that were traditionally part of the strategy of teachers, therapists and associated professionals working with children in early intervention were geared almost entirely to the assessment of developmental milestones beyond the first year of life.
Dr Cantle Moore’s work in developing this prototype of the Infant Monitor of vocal Production (IMP) represents an important contribution to the field of early intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The development phase now permits the distribution of this working prototype and training package for the use of the instrument. By engaging in the training and agreeing to become a user of the prototype you will be contributing to the ongoing development of the instrument, as well as sharing in the benefits of using this new approach to monitoring the early vocal productions of your own clients. I am sure you will agree that these are both worthwhile outcomes.
I will take this opportunity to thank and congratulate Dr Cantle Moore and the associated staff of RIDBC Renwick Centre for achieving the launch of this prototype and to encourage you to participate in this exciting development. The benefits will undoubtedly be great for the many professionals who become involved, and their client children and families.
Professor Greg Leigh, PhD, FACE
Conjoint Professor of Special Education and Director, RIDBC Renwick Centre / The University of Newcastle
Chair, Australasian Newborn Hearing Screening Committee