North Dakota received a federally funded four year grant to develop and implement a newborn hearing screening program administered by the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities at Minot State University . First Sounds - North Dakota 's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program started in the year 2000. A CSHS staff member, as well as many other stakeholders statewide, were part of the initial grant management team. Through this project, significant gains have been made in the percent of newborns that have had their hearing screened before hospital discharge. The percentage of infants screened prior to hospital discharge was 96% in 2005 compiled from the 16 participating hospitals. Future efforts will continue to focus on early hearing detection and intervention, including genetic referral as appropriate, tracking, surveillance and integration activities. Two additional grants were awarded in 2005. One focuses on continued hospital screening prior to hospital discharge and the other on follow-up, diagnosis, and referral.

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