Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing loss

Section 399M of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g–1) is amended— (1)in the section heading, by striking

infants

and inserting

newborns and infants

; (2)in subsection (a)— (A)in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking newborn and infant hearing screening, evaluation and intervention programs and systems and inserting newborn and infant hearing screening, evaluation, diagnosis, and intervention programs and systems, and to assist in the recruitment, retention, education, and training of qualified personnel and health care providers,; and (B)by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

(1)To develop and monitor the efficacy of statewide programs and systems for hearing screening of newborns and infants; prompt evaluation and diagnosis of children referred from screening programs; and appropriate educational, audiological, and medical interventions for children identified with hearing loss. Early intervention includes referral to and delivery of information and services by 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, which offer programs specifically designed to meet the unique language and communication needs of deaf and hard of hearing newborns and infants. Programs and systems under this paragraph shall establish and foster family-to-family support mechanisms that are critical in the first months after a child is identified with hearing loss.

; and

(C)by adding at the end the following:

(3)To develop efficient models to ensure that newborns and infants who are identified with a hearing loss through screening are not lost to follow-up by a qualified health care provider. These models shall be evaluated for their effectiveness, and State agencies shall be encouraged to adopt models that effectively reduce loss to follow-up. (4)To ensure an adequate supply of qualified personnel to meet the screening, evaluation, and early intervention needs of children.

;

(3)in subsection (b)— (A)in paragraph (1)(A), by striking hearing loss screening, evaluation, and intervention programs and inserting hearing loss screening, evaluation, diagnosis, and intervention programs; (B)in paragraph (2)— (i)by striking for purposes of this section, continue and insert the following:

for purposes of this section—(A)continue

;

(ii)by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and (iii)by adding at the end the following:

(B)establish a postdoctoral fellowship program to foster research and development in the area of early hearing detection and intervention.

;

(4)in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (c), by striking the term newborn and infant hearing screening, evaluation and intervention programs each place such term appears and inserting newborn and infant hearing screening, evaluation, diagnosis, and intervention programs; and (5)in subsection (e)— (A)in paragraph (3), by striking ensuring that families of the child and all that follows and inserting ensuring that families of the child are provided comprehensive, consumer-oriented information about the full range of family support, training, information services, and language and communication options and are given the opportunity to consider and obtain the full range of early intervention services, educational and program placements, and other options for their child from highly qualified providers.; and (B)in paragraph (6), by striking , after rescreening,; and (6)in subsection (f)— (A)in paragraph (1), by striking fiscal year 2002 and inserting fiscal years 2008 through 2013; (B)in paragraph (2), by striking fiscal year 2002 and inserting fiscal years 2008 through 2013; and (C)in paragraph (3), by striking fiscal year 2002 and inserting fiscal years 2008 through 2013.