Hearing Screening Requirements
As part of Health and Safety Code, Chapter 36, the Hearing Screening Program requires that all children enrolled for the first time in any public, private, parochial, or denominational school or in a Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) licensed child care center and licensed child care home in Texas, or who meet certain grade criteria, must be screened or have a professional examination for possible hearing problems.
The requirements for hearing screening [PDF 584KB] apply each year for children enrolled in any licensed child care center and licensed child care home or school program at the ages or grades listed below:
| Who Must Be Screened | When Screening Must Be Done |
|
Within 120 days of admission |
| 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th graders | Anytime within the school year (preferably within first semester) |
| Although not required by Chapter 36, Department of Family and Protective Services licensed child care center and licensed child care home are encouraged to screen all children younger than 4 years of age who can reliably respond to the screening tests outlined in the Department of State Health Service's vision and hearing screening protocols. | |
To collect screening information for each child, a facility may use its own screening form or duplicate one provided by the Department of State Health Services upon request: Hearing Screening Form M-40 [PDF 70KB]
In either case, there must be a screening record on file for each child enrolled. The following data must be recorded: Child's Name, Type of Screening, Date, Screener, and Screening Results.
Annual screening results for hearing screening activities should be submitted to the Department of State Health Services online on the Child Health Reporting System by June 30 of each year.
Screening Procedures
For hearing screening, the results of the pure-tone audiometric Sweep-Check Screen must be recorded for both the right and left ears. A Sweep-Check Screen is to be conducted at an intensity less than or equal to 25 dB; at the following frequencies: 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hertz.
Contact Us
Texas Department of State Health Services
Vision and Hearing Screening
PO Box 149347, MC 1818, Austin, Texas 78714-9347
1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756-3199
Phone: 512-776-7420 or toll free 1-800-252-8023, extension 7420
Fax: 512-776-7256
Email: vhssprogram@dshs.texas.gov
Relay Texas: Dial 7-1-1
View List of Vision and Hearing Screening Regional Coordinators.