[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5734-5735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2498]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
20 CFR Part 404
[Docket No. SSA-2006-0179]
RIN 0960-AG21
New Medical Criteria for Evaluating Language and Speech Disorders
AGENCY: Social Security Administration.
ACTION: Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: We are considering whether to propose new rules for evaluating
language and speech disorders. The new rules would apply to disability
claims involving language and speech disorders in adults and children
under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (Act). Specifically,
we are considering whether to add a new body system in the Listing of
Impairments in appendix 1 to subpart P of part 404 of our regulations
(listings) for these disorders. We are requesting your comments about
whether we should establish these new rules, as well as suggestions
about what the proposed rules should include. If we decide to propose
specific listings, we will publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) in the Federal Register.
DATES: To be sure that we consider your comments, we must receive them
by no later than April 6, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any one of three methods--
Internet, fax, or mail. Do not submit the comments multiple times or by
more than one method. Regardless of which method you choose, please
state that your comments refer to Docket No. SSA-2006-0179 so that we
may associate your comments with the correct regulation.
Caution: You should be careful to include in your comments only
information that you wish to make publicly available. We strongly urge
you not to include in your comments any personal information, such as
Social Security numbers or medical information.
1. Internet: We strongly recommend that you submit your comments
via the
[[Page 5735]]
Internet. Please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Use the Search function to find docket number SSA-
2006-0179. The system will issue you a tracking number to confirm your
submission. You will not be able to view your comment immediately
because we must post each comment manually. It may take up to a week
for your comment to be viewable.
2. Fax: Fax comments to (410) 966-2830.
3. Mail: Address your comments to the Office of Regulations, Social
Security Administration, 107 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401.
Comments are available for public viewing on the Federal
eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov or in person, during
regular business hours, by arranging with the contact person identified
below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl A. Williams, Office of Medical
Listings Improvement, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401, (410) 965-1020. For
information on eligibility or filing for benefits, call our national
toll-free number, 1-(800) 772-1213, or TTY 1-(800) 325-0778, or visit
our Internet site, Social Security Online, at http://www.socialsecurity.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
What is the purpose of this advance notice of proposed rulemaking
(ANPRM)?
We are considering whether to add to our listings a new body system
for evaluating language and speech disorders. The new listings would
apply to claims involving language and speech disorders in adults and
children under titles II and XVI of the Act. This notice gives you an
opportunity to send us comments about whether we should establish these
new rules and, if so, suggestions about what the proposed rules should
include.
Why are we considering new listings for language and speech disorders?
Our current listings provide criteria for evaluating language and
speech disorders in several body systems, including Special Senses and
Speech, Neurological, and Mental Disorders. Some of these listings
describe language or speech disorders that result from or occur with
specific disorders, such as cerebral palsy (listing 11.07C). Other
listings describe language or speech disorders in terms of the
resulting limitations in functioning, such as loss of speech with the
inability to produce by any means speech that can be heard, understood,
or sustained (listing 2.09). We are considering whether it would be
better to establish a new body system that would:
Use consistent terminology for describing language or
speech disorders;
Describe listing-level impairments for people who have
very serious language or speech problems; and
Provide clear and comprehensive criteria for evaluating
all language and speech problems in adults and children, regardless of
their cause.
Who should send us comments and suggestions?
We invite comments and suggestions from anyone who has an interest
in how we evaluate claims for benefits in our disability programs that
are filed by people who have language and speech disorders. We are
interested in comments and suggestions from people who apply for or
receive benefits from us, members of the general public, advocates and
organizations that represent people who have language or speech
disorders, State agencies that make disability determinations for us,
experts in the evaluation of language or speech disorders, and
researchers.
What should you comment about?
We are interested in knowing whether you think it is a good idea to
establish a new body system in our listings for language and speech
disorders and, if so, what the new listings should say. For example, do
you have any ideas about how we should:
Describe listing-level severity for particular kinds of
language and speech disorders in both adults and children?
Consider language and speech disorders when they result
from neurological disorders?
Consider language and speech disorders when they have no
identifiable cause?
Consider language and speech problems in young children
when they have delayed or disordered language and speech development?
Consider communication demands in a school setting when we
evaluate language and speech disorders in children?
Consider communication demands in a work setting when we
evaluate language and speech disorders in adults?
We are also interested in knowing what guidelines for documenting
and evaluating language and speech disorders you believe we should
include in the introductory section for the new body system.
Will we respond to your comments?
We will not respond directly to the comments you send in response
to this ANPRM. When we decide whether to propose new rules for
evaluating language and speech disorders, we will consider:
All comments and suggestions we receive in response to
this notice;
The comments and suggestions that we received in response
to the ANPRM that we published on April 13, 2005 (70 FR 19351); \1\
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\1\ The comments we received in response to this ANPRM are
available at: http://www.regulations.gov, under Docket SSA-2006-
0179.
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Information we received at a Policy Conference on Language
and Speech Disorders in the Disability Program, held September 26-27,
2005; \2\
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\2\ The full transcripts for the Policy Conference are available
at: http://www.regulations.gov, under Document IDs SSA-2006-0179-
0002 and SSA-2006-0179-0003.
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Information about advances in medical knowledge,
treatment, and methods of evaluating impairments that affect language
or speech; and
Our disability program experience.
If we propose new rules, we will publish an NPRM in the Federal
Register and you will have a chance to comment on the proposed rules.
List of Subjects in 20 CFR Part 404
Administrative practice and procedure, Blind, Disability benefits,
Old-age, survivors and disability insurance, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Social Security.
Michael J. Astrue,
Commissioner of Social Security.
[FR Doc. 2012-2498 Filed 2-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P