Section 10. Definitions  


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  • The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

    "ABR" means an objective, electrophysiologic measurement of the brainstem's response to acoustic stimulation of the ear.

    "At risk" means considered to be in a status with a significant probability of having or developing hearing loss as a result of the presence of one or more factors identified or manifested at birth.

    "Audiological evaluation" means those physiologic and behavioral procedures required to evaluate and diagnose hearing status.

    "Audiologist" means an audiologist as defined in § 54.1-2600 of the Code of Virginia.

    "Board" means the State Board of Health.

    "CDC" means the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    "Chief medical officer" means the highest position of authority on the medical staff of the hospital or other birthing place or center as defined in the organization's bylaws or applicable governance structure.

    "Child" means any person from birth to 18 years of age.

    "Commissioner" means the State Health Commissioner, his duly designated officer, or agent.

    "Department" means the Virginia Department of Health.

    "Discharge" means release from the hospital after birth to the care of the parent or guardian.

    "EHDI" means early hearing detection and intervention.

    "Family-to-family support" means the provision of information and peer support among families having experience with family members having hearing loss.

    "Guardian" means a parent-appointed, court-appointed, or clerk-appointed guardian of the person.

    "Hearing screening" means an objective physiological measure to be completed in order to determine the likelihood of hearing loss.

    "Hospital" means any facility as defined in § 32.1-123 of the Code of Virginia.

    "Infant" means a child under the age of one year.

    "Neonatal intensive care services" means those services provided by a hospital's newborn services that are designated as either specialty level or subspecialty level as defined in 12VAC5-410-443 B 3 and B 4 of the Regulations for the Licensure of Hospitals in Virginia.

    "Newborn" means an infant who is 28 days old or less.

    "Newborn services" means care for infants in one or more of the service levels designated in 12VAC5-410-443 B of the Regulations for the Licensure of Hospitals in Virginia.

    "OAE" means an objective, physiologic response from the cochlea. This term may include transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and distortion product otoacoustic emissions.

    "Other birthing place or center" means a place or facility outside of a hospital that provides maternity services.

    "Parent" means a biological or adoptive parent or a stepparent.

    "Part C" means the state early intervention services program that provides medically necessary speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and assistive technology services and devices for children from birth to age three who are eligible for services under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 USC §§ 1431-1444) and Virginia law.

    "Primary health care provider" means the person to whom the infant will go for primary health care following hospital discharge.

    "Resident" means an individual who resides within the geographical boundaries of the Commonwealth.

    "Risk indicator" means a factor known to place an infant at increased risk for being born with or developing a hearing loss.

    "Title V" means the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant (Title V of the Social Security Act).

    "Virginia Hearing Impairment Identification and Monitoring System" means a coordinated and comprehensive group of services including education; screening; follow up; diagnosis; appropriate early intervention including treatment, therapy, training, and education; and program evaluation managed by the department's Virginia Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program for safeguarding the health of children born in Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR355-12-01 § 1.1, eff. April 3, 1987; amended, Volume 16, Issue 16, eff. July 1, 2000; Volume 30, Issue 05, eff. December 6, 2013.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-64.1 of the Code of Virginia.