JAD, in its hearing services division, plans to implement a countrywide public awareness campaign to sensitize people about the importance of hearing health, the need for early intervention, and the services provided. A screening, diagnostic, and referral program will target infants, pre-primary and primary school children from which an impact study will be made. 

The parishes of St. Catherine, Kingston & St. Andrew, St. Thomas and Clarendon have been targeted due to a high incidence of children with hearing loss residing therein as found through statistics from the Jamaica Association for the Deaf. With the goal to promote literacy and personal development we intend to screen more children and at an early age to facilitate early intervention. The sample size will be divided into three age ranges; 0-2+ yrs, 3-5 yrs, and 6-8yrs. Children aged 0-2+yrs. will also be chosen from ‘Well Baby’ clinics and Immunization Centres as these are the three main checkpoints in a child’s development and so will be of easier access. Children aged 3-8yrs. will be chosen from Infant and Primary schools in the parishes identified.