Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah has been appointed to serve on the new Minnesota Newborn Hearing Advisory Committee.

The committee was formed in conjunction with the state’s new law mandating hearing screening for newborns. The committee will design the protocols to be used by physicians and hospitals in screening newborns and the steps to follow should newborn hearing loss be detected.

“Minnesota is among the bottom five states in the nation for the number of babies identified and reported with hearing loss, but now we have a chance to change that and give every child the opportunity to thrive,” said Sivarajah. “As the parent of a child with a hearing loss, I recognize the importance of early identification as it gives children access to language learning opportunities during those first three years which are so critical for social, emotional, and academic growth.”

Sivarajah, of Lino Lakes, represents District #6 in Anoka County. As a member of the Newborn Hearing Advisory Committee, she will represent “a consumer from an organization representing oral communication options,” according to the committee profile. Sivarajah is a member of the AG Bell Association for the deaf and hard of hearing, and president of the Northern Voices Board of Trustees. Northern Voices is an oral school for the deaf and hard of hearing in Roseville.