Studies may be in any of the program areas of the Institute, hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language. Collaborative studies are supported through research contracts, inter-agency agreements, and cooperative agreements with other Federal and State agencies or outside organizations. The staff also provides consultation services in the design of studies of communication disorders applicable to diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, disease prevention, or the progression of disease. Biostatistical methods are developed and applied as needed. Data systems are maintained and computational support is provided for research studies to monitor trends and estimate relative or attributable risks of explanatory factors in studies of communication disorders.
Research is conducted on human populations throughout the lifespan.
Research questions address prevalence, risk factors, attributable risk, natural history, etiology and preventive interventions. Training in biostatistical methods, including current computational approaches, and principles of epidemiologic research are an integral part of the fellowship. Interested candidates for a postdoctoral position should have a Ph.D., M.D., D.P.H., or other doctoral degree with less than five years of postdoctoral experience. Howard J. Hoffman, M.A., Chief Epidemiologic studies of communication disorders during infancy and childhood are focused on prevalence, etiology, natural history, and preventive interventions. The Section is involved in analytical, experimental, and community health intervention research for the early identification of communication disorders.