42 USC 247b-4a - Early detection, diagnosis, and interventions for newborns and infants with hearing loss

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 247b–4a.

Early detection, diagnosis, and interventions for newborns and infants with hearing loss

(a)

Definitions

For the purposes of this section only, the following terms in this section are defined as follows:

(1)

Hearing screening

(2)

Audiologic evaluation

(3)

Medical evaluation

(4)

Medical intervention

(5)

Audiologic rehabilitation

(6)

Early intervention

(b)

Purposes

The purposes of this section are to clarify the authority within the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.] to authorize statewide newborn and infant hearing screening, evaluation and intervention programs and systems, technical assistance, a national applied research program, and interagency and private sector collaboration for policy development, in order to assist the States in making progress toward the following goals:

(1)

All babies born in hospitals in the United States and its territories should have a hearing screening before leaving the birthing facility. Babies born in other countries and residing in the United States via immigration or adoption should have a hearing screening as early as possible.

(2)

All babies who are not born in hospitals in the United States and its territories should have a hearing screening within the first 3 months of life.

(3)

Appropriate audiologic and medical evaluations should be conducted by 3 months for all newborns and infants suspected of having hearing loss to allow appropriate referral and provisions for audiologic rehabilitation, medical and early intervention before the age of 6 months.

(4)

All newborn and infant hearing screening programs and systems should include a component for audiologic rehabilitation, medical and early intervention options that ensures linkage to any new and existing statewide systems of intervention and rehabilitative services for newborns and infants with hearing loss.

(5)

Public policy in regard to newborn and infant hearing screening and intervention should be based on applied research and the recognition that newborns, infants, toddlers, and children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing have unique language, learning, and communication needs, and should be the result of consultation with pertinent public and private sectors.

(c)

Statewide newborn and infant hearing screening, evaluation and intervention programs and systems

Under the existing authority of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.], the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”), acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall make awards of grants or cooperative agreements to develop statewide newborn and infant hearing screening, evaluation and intervention programs and systems for the following purposes:

(1)

To develop and monitor the efficacy of statewide newborn and infant hearing screening, evaluation and intervention programs and systems. Early intervention includes referral to schools and agencies, including community, consumer, and parent-based agencies and organizations and other programs mandated by part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.], which offer programs specifically designed to meet the unique language and communication needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, toddlers, and children.

(2)

To collect data on statewide newborn and infant hearing screening, evaluation and intervention programs and systems that can be used for applied research, program evaluation and policy development.

(d)

Technical assistance, data management, and applied research

(1)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Under the existing authority of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.], the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall make awards of grants or cooperative agreements to provide technical assistance to State agencies to complement an intramural program and to conduct applied research related to newborn and infant hearing screening, evaluation and intervention programs and systems. The program shall develop standardized procedures for data management and program effectiveness and costs, such as—

(A)

to ensure quality monitoring of newborn and infant hearing loss screening, evaluation, and intervention programs and systems;

(B)

to provide technical assistance on data collection and management;

(C)

to study the costs and effectiveness of newborn and infant hearing screening, evaluation and intervention programs and systems conducted by State-based programs in order to answer issues of importance to State and national policymakers;

(D)

to identify the causes and risk factors for congenital hearing loss;

(E)

to study the effectiveness of newborn and infant hearing screening, audiologic and medical evaluations and intervention programs and systems by assessing the health, intellectual and social developmental, cognitive, and language status of these children at school age; and

(F)

to promote the sharing of data regarding early hearing loss with State-based birth defects and developmental disabilities monitoring programs for the purpose of identifying previously unknown causes of hearing loss.

(2)

National Institutes of Health

(e)

Coordination and collaboration

(1)

In general

(2)

Policy development

(3)

State early detection, diagnosis, and intervention programs and systems; data collection

(f)

Rule of construction

(g)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

Statewide newborn and infant hearing screening, evaluation and intervention programs and systems

(2)

Technical assistance, data management, and applied research; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(3)

Technical assistance, data management, and applied research; National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

(Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(4) [title VI, § 601], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A–276.)

cite as: 42 USC 247b-4a