Section 75. Risk indicators associated with hearing loss

A. The Virginia EHDI program shall maintain a list of specific risk indicators consistent with, but not necessarily identical to, the most recent recommendations from the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing to identify infants at risk of hearing loss.

B. The Virginia EHDI Program Advisory Group shall provide guidance with the development and maintenance of the list of specific risk indicators.

C. The list of specific risk indicators shall be maintained in a guidance document, which shall be reviewed at a minimum biennially. The list of specific risk indicators may be changed or amended more frequently as needed to reflect changes in standards of care or updates to Joint Committee on Infant Hearing recommendations.

D. The guidance document shall contain specific assessment and reporting criteria for the following general categories of risk indicators associated with hearing loss:

1. Family history of permanent childhood hearing loss;

2. Caregiver concerns;

3. In utero and post natal infections;

4. Neonatal intensive care services;

5. Head trauma and craniofacial anomalies;

6. Syndromes, neurodegenerative disorders, and sensory motor neuropathies;

7. Stigmata or other physical findings associated with certain syndromes;

8. Ototoxic medications, treatments, and chemotherapies; and

9. Other indicators as needed.

E. All infants born in Virginia hospitals shall be assessed prior to hospital discharge after birth for risk indicators associated with hearing loss as outlined in this chapter and the corresponding guidance document.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 30, Issue 05, eff. December 6, 2013.

Statutory Authority

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