You are here
Messages from the NIDCD Director
Debara L. Tucci, M.D., M.S., M.B.A.
Cloth face coverings and distancing pose communication challenges for many
Posted on July 10, 2020
Communication is an important and complex transaction that depends on visual and, often, auditory (hearing) cues. Factors that influence how well our spoken language is received include our eye contact and body language, whether we stand or sit while speaking, the tone of our voices and our facial expressions, and environmental lighting and background noise.
Research drives changes to make hearing health care more accessible and affordable
Posted on May 5, 2020
Approximately 15% of U.S. adults report some degree of hearing loss. Untreated hearing loss is a huge issue for human health. It may lead to isolation, and it has been associated with serious conditions such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, dementia, reduced mobility, and falls.
Hearing health care is a global priority
Posted on February 27, 2020
Approximately 466 million children and adults worldwide have disabling hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Unaddressed hearing loss costs an estimated US$750 billion annually worldwide and potentially interferes greatly with an individual’s physical, behavioral, and social functioning.
Welcome to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Posted on September 9, 2019
The NIDCD’s mission is to improve the lives of the millions of people with hearing loss and other communication disorders, spanning functions of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language.