Healthcare Industry News: Natus Medical
News Release - November 7, 2006
Natus Medical Announces Introduction of BioMAP Software for Navigator Pro AEP System
New Software Tool Tests Children with Learning Disabilities, Expands Company's Hearing Diagnostic Product LineSAN CARLOS, Calif.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Natus Medical Incorporated today announced the launch of BioMAP(TM) (Biological Marker of Auditory Processing) - a new software module for the Bio-logic Navigator® Pro hearing diagnostic platform. The Northwestern University Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, in partnership with the Company's Bio-logic Systems division, recently completed clinical studies validating the usefulness of BioMAP in diagnosing language-processing disorders among children with learning difficulties.
BioMAP is an objective neurophysiological test used to identify auditory processing disorders associated with learning impairments in children. Studies conducted by researchers at Northwestern have shown that the BioMAP response in children 8-12 years of age is abnormal in approximately 30% of children who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities. Children with abnormal BioMAP responses who subsequently undergo auditory training typically show clinical improvement as well as changes in their BioMAP response after training is completed, objectively demonstrating that the training has had a beneficial impact on their speech processing skills.
"The beauty of BioMAP as a diagnostic tool is that it doesn't require a child to follow directions or perform a task," noted Nina Kraus, Ph. D., Northwestern's Hugh Knowles Professor of Communication Sciences, Neurobiology and Otolaryngology. Traditional central auditory processing evaluations consist of behavioral measures, which are frequently complicated by factors such as a child's attention span, memory, and lack of comprehension. In contrast, the BioMAP test is objective, and requires only that a child stay awake and sit quietly for 20 to 30 minutes.
Jim Hawkins, President & CEO of Natus Medical, commented, "Natus has always recognized the importance of hearing in a child's development, and is proud to be working with Northwestern in providing this important tool to assist children diagnosed with learning disabilities. It's a perfect fit for us as the leader in newborn hearing screening and hearing diagnostic solutions."
The BioMAP tool is the result of Bio-logic's partnership with the Northwestern University Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory(1) to make BioMAP testing available as a software package for the Navigator Pro AEP system. More information on the research behind BioMAP may be found at the Northwestern University Neuroscience Laboratory website: www.communication.northwestern.edu/brainvolts/clinicaltechnologies/.
About Natus
Natus Medical Incorporated is a leading provider of healthcare products used for the screening, detection, treatment, monitoring & tracking of common medical ailments such as hearing impairment, neurological dysfunction, epilepsy, sleep disorders, newborn jaundice & newborn metabolic testing. Headquartered in San Carlos, California, Natus markets and sells its products worldwide through a direct sales force and distributors in the U.S., and through distributors in over 80 other countries. Additional information about Natus Medical can be found at www.natus.com.
References
1 BioMAP was developed by Nina Kraus, Trent Nicol, Erika Skoe and Steven Zecker at Northwestern University Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Evanston, IL.
Source: Natus Medical
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