For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) “Child” means a person up to 21 years of age.

(2) “Early intervention” and/or “follow-up care” means the early intervention services described in Part C and Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) [20 U.S.C. § 1431 et seq. and 20 U.S.C. § 1411 et seq.], as well as any necessary hearing and medical services for the diagnosis and management of newborn, infant, or child hearing loss.

(3) “False negative rate” means the proportion of infants not identified as having a significant hearing loss by the screening process who are ultimately found to have a significant hearing loss.

(4) “False positive rate” means the proportion of infants identified as having a significant hearing loss by the screening process who are ultimately found to not have a significant hearing loss.

(5) “Family” or “families” means a birth parent(s), stepparent(s), adoptive parent(s), legal guardian(s), or other legal custodian of a newborn, infant, or child.

(6) “Family-centered” means the beliefs, values, and practices that emphasize the essential role of the family in all aspects of the decision-making and intervention process regarding the young child.

(7) “Health-care insurer” means any entity regulated by the Insurance Commissioner, including, but not limited to, health-care insurers; health, hospital or medical service plan corporations; or health maintenance organizations. Health-care insurer does not include self-insured plans or groups regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) (29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq.), to the extent that state regulation of such plans is preempted by ERISA.

(8) “Health insurance policy” means any health insurance policy, contract, plan, or evidence of coverage issued by a health-care insurer, which provides medical coverage on an expense incurred, service or prepaid basis.

(9) “Hearing screening test” means automated auditory brain stem response, otoacoustic emissions, or another appropriate screening test approved by the Department of Health and Social Services.

(10) “Hospital” means a health care facility or birthing center licensed in this State that provides obstetrical services, or provides inpatient newborn services.

(11) “Infant” means a child who is not a newborn and has not attained the age of 1 year.

(12) “Lead agency” means the Department of Health and Social Services.

(13) “Newborn” means a child up to 28 days old.

(14) “Parent” means a natural parent, stepparent, adoptive parents, guardian, or custodian of a newborn or infant.

(15) “Significant hearing loss” means a hearing loss equivalent to or greater than a 35-decibel hearing loss (35-dB HL) in the better ear.

(16) “Surveillance and tracking system” means a monitoring and referral system and procedures designed for the collection and transmission of information and data necessary to implement timely and appropriate follow-up of infants identified through hearing screening programs.

75 Del. Laws, c. 116, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1.