[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10773-10774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02980]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-17-0955]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted 
the following information collection request to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The notice for the proposed 
information collection is published to obtain comments from the public 
and affected agencies.
    Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected 
agencies concerning the proposal collection of information are 
encouraged. Your comments should address any of the following: (a) 
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the 
accuracy of the agencies estimate of burden of the proposed collection 
of information, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; (d) Minimize the burden of the collection 
of information to those who are to respond, including through the use 
of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and 
(e) Assess information collection costs.
    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call 
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Direct written comments 
and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice to the 
Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Written comments 
should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Early Hearing Detection and Intervention-Pediatric Audiology Links 
to Service (EHDI-PALS) Survey (OMB No. 0920-0955, Expiration Date 03/
31/2017)--Revision--National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental

[[Page 10774]]

Disabilities (NCBDDD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The Division of Human Development and Disability, located within 
NCBDDD, promotes the health of babies, children, and adults, with a 
focus on preventing birth defects and developmental disabilities and 
optimizing the health outcomes of those with disabilities. In 2014, 
2015, and 2016, NCBDDD sponsored the Early Hearing Detection and 
Intervention-Pediatric Audiology Links to Service (EHDI-PALS) Survey. 
NCBDDD requests OMB approval to continue conducting the EHDI-PALS 
Survey in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The survey is designed to facilitate 
timely referrals for hearing screening, diagnostic, and follow-up care 
services for infants and children ages 0-5 years.
    Early interventions for infants and children with hearing loss can 
prevent or mitigate delays in speech, language, and cognitive 
development. Since passage of the Early Hearing Detection and 
Intervention (EHDI) Act in 2010, 98% of newborn infants are now 
screened for hearing loss prior to hospital discharge. Many states have 
additional legislation that requires health care providers to report 
cases of childhood hearing loss to state-based EHDI programs. Key 
recommendations are based on the ``1-3-6'' framework: Screening of all 
infants for hearing loss by 1 month of age, ensuring diagnostic 
audiologic evaluation by 3 months of age for those who do not pass the 
screening, and enrollment in early intervention services by 6 months of 
age for those identified with hearing loss. However, many infants and 
children do not receive the recommended hearing tests and follow-up 
services. In 2013, the national average loss to follow-up/loss to 
documentation rate was 32%, but varied widely from state to state and 
within states.
    High rates of loss to follow-up or loss to documentation remain 
areas of critical concern for state EHDI programs. Reasons for loss to 
follow-up or documentation include lack of convenient audiology clinics 
(geographic distribution of clinics), lack of providers with the 
specialized training needed to diagnose or treat infants and children 
ages 0-5 (capacity), consumers' difficulty finding the right provider 
(information), providers' lack of awareness of or compliance with state 
reporting requirements (compliance), and other factors.
    The annual EHDI-PALS Survey was developed to help states verify the 
distribution of their pediatric audiology resources, quantify their 
true follow-up capacity, and support efforts to meet diagnostic and 
follow-up goals defined by the 1-3-6 framework. Survey respondents are 
audiologists and audiology facility managers who submit information 
online through a secure, password protected site managed by the 
University of Maine. Survey findings have been made available to state 
EHDI program staff through specialized reports useful for program 
planning and evaluation. In addition, information has been made 
available to state EHDI staff and the public through the EHDI-PALS Web 
site, which provides a searchable directory of facilities and practices 
that offer pediatric audiology services. Since 2014, state EHDI program 
personnel accessed the collected data over 3,000 times and consumers 
visited the EHDI-PALS site for facility information over 140,000 times. 
This high usage rate lends strong support for survey continuation.
    Participation will be requested in two ways. Both the American 
Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the American Academy of 
Audiology are members of the EHDI-PALS workgroup and will continue to 
disseminate announcements through association e-newsletters and e-
announcements requesting the participation of their members. CDC 
estimates that this will result in 200 new responses per year. The 
estimated burden for a new respondent is 9 minutes. Respondents who 
have participated in the EHDI-PALS survey in previous years will 
receive a brief email from the University of Maine asking them to 
review the information on file for them. It is estimated that 
approximately 800 audiologists will do so. It takes approximately 2 
minutes per person to review and update previously submitted data. 
Finally, it is estimated that an additional 400 audiologists will read 
through the purpose statement located on page one of the survey and 
discontinue their participation. The estimated burden per response for 
a dropout is 1 minute. The revised method of calculating burden results 
in a reduction in total estimated annualized burden hours.
    Participation is voluntary and there are no costs to respondents 
other than their time. The total estimated annualized burden hours are 
64.
    CDC requests approval from OMB to continue the EHDI-PALS survey for 
three years. There are no changes to the online survey instrument. 
Survey findings will continue to be used for state-based program 
improvement and to assist consumers in locating facilities that offer 
the services they need. In addition, CDC's EHDI program will use 
findings to provide targeted technical assistance to state-based EHDI 
programs.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                                       Average
                                                                       Number of      Number of      burden per
           Type of respondent                     Form name           respondents   responses per     response
                                                                                      respondent     (in hours)
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Audiologist or practice representative   EHDI-PALS Survey..........           200                1          9/60
 (first-time participant).
Audiologist or practice representative   EHDI-PALS Survey..........           800                1          2/60
 (previous participant).
Audiologist or practice representative   EHDI-PALS Survey                     400                1          1/60
 (survey dropout).                        Introduction.
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Leroy A. Richardson,
Chief, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of the Associate Director for Science, Office of the 
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2017-02980 Filed 2-14-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P