The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has released the NIDCD Strategic Plan 2017–2021, intended to chart a course for the conduct and support of communication research. By identifying research topics of outstanding promise and opportunity, the plan will help the NIDCD prioritize research investments and will guide scientists as they shape their communication research programs.
The plan outlines four priority areas of research:
- Deepen our understanding of the normal function of the systems of human communication.
- Increase our knowledge about conditions that alter or diminish communication and health.
- Improve methods of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
- Accelerate the translation of research discoveries into practice and increase access to health care.
By conducting and supporting research, the NIDCD aims to improve the quality of life for the 46 million Americans who have communication challenges. NIDCD-funded researchers have already made significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of the many forms of disordered communication, leading to important public health benefits.
The plan was created by the NIDCD Strategic Plan Working Group, which included internal and external experts in the NIDCD’s three program areas: hearing and balance; taste and smell; and voice, speech, and language.
The NIDCD has published the plan in two digital formats: PDF and HTML.
* Note: PDF files require a viewer such as the free Adobe Reader.