North Carolina, joining many other states, has a law requiring that all newborns receive hearing screenings. This means that hearing impairment will be detected much earlier than they have been in the past for young children, and intervention services can begin in infancy.

In March of 1999, with the passing of the Newborn and Infant Screening and Intervention Act, a North Carolina legislative study recommended that North Carolina:

• Offer a variety of communication options for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

• Increase services for infants and toddlers who are deaf and hard of hearing.

• Increase number of adequately trained professionals in the field of deaf education.

• Revise curricula in teacher preparation program in deafness to reflect current teaching practice in North Carolina

• Coordinate services between programs for infants and young children who are deaf and hard of hearing and other providers and agencies in th early intervention system.