Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
SECTION I.
AUTHORITY. These Rules and Regulations are promulgated pursuant
to the authority conferred by Act 1096 of 1993, the same being Arkansas Code
Annotated 20-15-1101, et. seq.
SECTION II.
PURPOSE.
Uncorrected hearing loss during the critical language-learning period
can severely limit a child's capability for developing a complete and effective
communication system. Through early identification and follow-up, children born
with hearing impairments can develop effective communication systems. This, in
turn, improves their quali ty of 11 f e and 1ncreases thei r potenti al to
become producti ve citizens. These Rules and Regulations provide a method to
assure that all newborns are screened for risk factors associated with hearing
loss.
SECTION III.
RESPONSIBILITY. A paper screen ft)r risk indicators associated with
hearing loss will be completed for every newborn before discharge from the
hospital or birthing site as follows.
A.
Medical Facilities. In all cases where the birth of an infant
occurs in a medical facility licensed by the Board of Health, it shall be the
responsibility of the governing body and medical staff of that facility to
adopt and enforce policies and procedure that ensure that screenings for risk
factors associated with hearing loss are conducted and processed in accordance
with these rules and regulations.
B.
Birth Attendants. In cases
where the birth occurs outside a licensed medical facility, it shall be the
responsibility of the birth attendant to ensure that a screening for risk
factors associated with hearing loss is conducted and submitted.
C.
The Arkansas Department of Health
(ADH).1. The ADH shall be responsible
for the provision of hearing impairment at-risk questionnaires and instructions
for completion of the questionnaires.
2. The ADH wi 11 create a Heari ng Impa1rment
Regi stry to 1dentify newborn infants at-risk for hearing impairment, Infants
with hearing impairment and infants at-risk for developing a progressive
hearing impairment.
3. The ADH will
report screening results to parents, guardians and physicians within a time
period which would allow early Identification and appropriate
Intervention.
4. The ADH will
develop appropriate written materials regarding hearing Impairment and will
provide those to hospitals, birthing centers and lay midwives for their use in
the program.
SECTION
IV.
QUESTIONNAIRE COLLECTION AND SUBMISSION. The
hearing impairment at-risk questionnaires must be completed and submitted as
described below.
A.
Collection of
Questionnaires.1. For all infants born
In medical facilities, the questionnaire shall be completed at the time of
discharge from the facility.
2.
Birth attendants shall complete the hearing impairment at-risk questionnaire
within 72 hours of the birth of the Infant.
B.
Submission of
Questionnaires. Questionnaires shall be submitted to the Arkansas
Department of Health, Office of Hearing, Speech and Vision Services on a
monthly basis. The submitter is responsible for supplying adequate Identifying
Information on the questionnaire to be used for tracking infants with and
without risk characteristics.
C.
Forms. The county health units will not supply these forms. Questionnaires may
be obtained by writing to:
Arkansas Department of Health
Office of Hearing, Speech and Vision Services
Infant Hearing Program
4815 West Markham Street. Slot 20
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205-3867
D.
Unusable Questionnaires.
Inadequate, Incomplete or otherwise unusable qut3t1:?nna1res shall be
reported to the submitter. The submitter shall be responsible for assuring
recollection and resubmission within seven days of notification.
SECTION V.
DETERMINATION OF
RISK STATUS. The Arkansas Department of Health shall define the risk
criteria or characteristics associated with hearing loss. These criteria shall
be determined based on current state-of-the-art standards and
practices.
SECTION VI.
ARKANSAS DEPARTXENT OF HEALTH'S ROLE IN TREATMENT AND MONITORING.
A.
Hearing Impairment Registry.
All questionnaires received by the Office shall be entered Into the
Registry. Infants at risk for hearing loss will be reported to their physicians
and parents after data entry.
B.
Listing of Testing Facilities.
1. The Arkansas Department of Health shall
maintain a 11st of facilities which screen Infants for hearing loss and shall
make the names of these fad 111:1 es l;nown to attending physicfans of Infants
with associated risk factors for hearing impairment.
2. The Arkansas Department of Health shall
also maintain test results in the hearing impairment registry of infants who
receive follow-up testing.
SECTION VII.
SEVERABILITY. If
any provision of these Rules and Regulations, or application thereof to any
person or circumstance is held Invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other
provisions or applications of these Rules and Regulations which give effect
without the Invalid provisions or applications, and to this end the provisions
hereto are declared to be severable.
SECTION
VIII.
REPEAL. All regulations and parts of
regulations in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
