ACLD Opens New Audiology Clinic in Bethpage, Filling Critical Gap for I/DD Community

Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities, Inc. (ACLD) recently celebrated the opening of its new Audiology Clinic with a ribbon cutting ceremony at ACLD’s Article 16 Clinic in Bethpage. The expansion of services marks an important step in improving access to specialized hearing testing, evaluations and care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). ACLD is one of only three agencies on Long Island to provide audiology services in an Article 16 Clinic for the I/DD community at large.

The new audiology services now provide complete audiologic evaluations, including pure tone testing, speech discrimination, impedance measurements, otoacoustic emissions testing, sound field audiometry and assessments to identify the most functionally appropriate hearing aids and assistive listening devices.

Research shows hearing loss is substantially more prevalent among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities than in the general population and is frequently underdiagnosed due to communication barriers, behavioral overlap, and limited access to specialized providers. Untreated hearing loss can compound cognitive, social, behavioral, and functional challenges, significantly impacting independence and quality of life.

“Our new audiology booth will provide state-of-the-art services in diagnostic assessment of hearing disorders,” said Robert Ciatto, President and CEO of ACLD.

The ribbon cutting included tours of the new audiology space, demonstrations of testing equipment and remarks from ACLD leadership, clinicians and board members.

“We are grateful to the New York State Department of Health for the generous grant funding that made this new service possible through their Statewide Healthcare Facility Transformation Program,” said Ciatto.

ACLD’s Article 16 Clinic is designed to support people with I/DD through accessible accommodations and specialized testing approaches tailored to varying communication styles and sensory sensitivities. ACLD’s audiology team includes certified professionals experienced in working with the I/DD population.

Rebecca Kooper, Secretary of the ACLD Board of Directors, audiologist and sibling of a person supported at ACLD, spoke during the ceremony about the importance of accessible and inclusive hearing care. “From difficulty communicating or understanding the instructions, to possible behavioral issues impacting evaluations and other medical conditions complicating things, it is not easy to diagnose hearing impairments [in the I/DD population]. That is why what we are seeing here today is monumental. Providing audiology services as part of the Article 16 Clinic ensures that patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities are seen by trusted providers who have the experience to manage these challenges for positive outcomes.”

ACLD’s Article 16 Clinic provides a range of OPWDD-certified clinical and habilitative services designed to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities improve communication, daily living, and overall independence. Existing services include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy and swallow evaluations. The Article 16 Clinic is open to any adult on Long Island with an I/DD diagnosis.

About Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities, Inc. (ACLD) Founded in 1957, ACLD is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit agency whose mission is to provide opportunities for children and adults with autism, learning, and developmental disabilities to pursue enviable lives, promote independence and foster supportive relationships within the community. ACLD employs more than 1,300 people and operates more than 100 program sites including community residences and apartment programs across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Services include early childhood services, day habilitation, residential alternatives, vocational training and job placement programs, respite, family support services, and occupational, speech and physical therapies. For more information about ACLD, visit: www.acld.org.