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<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-05-29-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>0960-AG20</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>200810</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>0960</CODE>
            <NAME>Social Security Administration</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>SSA</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Revised Medical Criteria for Evaluating Hearing Loss (2862F)</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[Sections 2.00 and 102.00, Special Senses and Speech, of appendix 1 subpart P of part 404 of our regulations describe hearing loss that is considered severe enough to prevent a person from doing any gainful activity, or for a child claiming Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments under title XVI, that causes marked and severe functional limitations.  We are revising these sections to ensure that the medical evaluation criteria are up-to-date and consistent with the latest advances in medical knowledge and treatment.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Final Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>20 CFR 404.1500, app 1</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 402</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 405(a)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 405(b)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 405(d) to 42 USC 405(h)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 416(i)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 421(a)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 421(i)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 422(c)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 423</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 425</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 902(a)(5)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>Yes</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <RPLAN_INFO>
            <STMT_OF_NEED><![CDATA[These regulations are necessary to update the hearing loss listings to reflect advances in medical knowledge, treatment, and methods of evaluating hearing impairments.  The changes ensure that determinations of disability have a sound medical basis, that claimants receive equal treatment through the use of specific criteria, and that people who are disabled can be readily identified and awarded benefits if all other factors of entitlement or eligibility are met.]]></STMT_OF_NEED>
            <LEGAL_BASIS><![CDATA[Administrative--not required by statute or court order.]]></LEGAL_BASIS>
            <ALTERNATIVES><![CDATA[We considered not revising the listings or making only minor technical changes and continuing to use our current criteria.  However, we believe that proposing these revisions is preferable because of the medical advances that have been made in treating and evaluating these types of impairments.  The current listings are now over 15 years old.  Medical advances in disability evaluation and treatment and our program experience make clear that the current listings do not reflect state-of-the-art medical knowledge and technology.]]></ALTERNATIVES>
            <COSTS_AND_BENEFITS><![CDATA[Cost estimates for fiscal years 2008 - 2018:  (in millions of dollars) OASDI - 105, SSI - 10.]]></COSTS_AND_BENEFITS>
            <RISKS><![CDATA[None.]]></RISKS>
        </RPLAN_INFO>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>ANPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>04/13/2005</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>70 FR 19353</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>ANPRM Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>06/13/2005</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>08/13/2008</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>73 FR 47103</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>10/14/2008</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Action</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>09/00/2009</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>No</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>None</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <PUBLIC_COMMENT_URL>www.regulations.gov</PUBLIC_COMMENT_URL>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Cheryl</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Williams</LAST_NAME>
                <MIDDLE_NAME>A.</MIDDLE_NAME>
                <TITLE>Director</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0960</CODE>
                    <NAME>Social Security Administration</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>SSA</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>410 965-1020</PHONE>
                <EMAIL>cheryl.a.williams@ssa.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>Office of Medical Policy, 6401 Security Boulevard,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Baltimore</CITY>
                    <STATE>MD</STATE>
                    <ZIP>21235-6401</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Rosemarie</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Greenwald</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>Social Insurance Specialist, Regulations Writer</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0960</CODE>
                    <NAME>Social Security Administration</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>SSA</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>410 966-7813</PHONE>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>Office of Regulations, 6401 Security Boulevard,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Baltimore</CITY>
                    <STATE>MD</STATE>
                    <ZIP>21235-6401</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
