The Gallaudet University Genetics Program was recently awarded funding by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) and the National Human Genome Research Institute to provide summer workshops in genetics for faculty of graduate-level audiology academic programs (e.g., MS, AuD, PhD). In preparation for the workshops, a needs assessment survey of audiology faculty will be conducted this fall to determine the extent to which genetics information is currently being incorporated into academic programs and to identify specific areas of content that can be covered during the workshops.

The summer program in genetics is designed to improve the academic preparation of future audiologists in the clinical, technical, ethical, social, and legal issues surrounding the provision of genetic services and molecular testing for hereditary hearing loss. Given the recent advances in the identification of specific genes for deafness and the increasing availability of testing for these genes, it is critical that audiology academic programs incorporate additional information about the technical and ethical aspects in their curricula. The 7-day workshop is designed to assist audiology faculty by providing them with intensive academic preparation as well as information, materials, and activities that can be incorporated into their own curricula.