Cal. Code Regs. tit. 17 § 2951

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 45, November 8, 2024

Section 2951 - Testing Standards

Schools conducting hearing testing shall comply with the following criteria:

(a) Equipment.

(1) Hearing threshold tests.

(A) Pure tone audiometers used for testing of hearing thresholds shall be those manufactured to meet or exceed specifications for wide range or limited range audiometers as defined by American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Specification Section 3.6-1969, Subsection 2.1.1 (published in 1969) and shall be maintained to meet such specifications. Such audiometers shall be designed to operate from alternating current supply voltages and meet the stability standards defined in Subsection 4.6 of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Section 3.6-1969 Specifications.

(2) Hearing screening test.

(A) Pure tone audiometers used for hearing screening tests shall be those manufactured to meet or exceed specifications for wide range audiometers or limited range audiometers as defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Section 3.6-1969, Subsections 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 and shall be maintained to meet such specifications.

(B) Pure tone audiometers used for hearing screening tests shall not be battery powered. Audiometers in use on the effective date of the amendment to the regulations may be utilized until they no longer meet American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Section 3.6-1969 Specifications, Subsections 1 through 4.9.2.

(3) Care of equipment.

(A) Audiometric testing personnel shall be trained in the proper care of the testing equipment.

(B) Biological checks.

Audiometric testing personnel shall maintain continuous surveillance of the audiometer used, by performing biological checks as follows:

1. Daily. A brief biological check of the audiometer shall be made each day the audiometer is in use. The check shall consist of testing each earphone on a person with stable audiometric thresholds that do not exceed 25 decibel hearing level at any frequency tested between 500 Hertz and 4000 Hertz and comparing the test results with the subject's baseline audiogram. The subject may be the audiometrist.

2. Monthly. A detailed biological check of the audiometer which includes a careful listening test of earphones to insure that the audiometer displays no evidence of

a. Cross talk;

b. Signal distortion;

c. Transient clicks;

d. Abnormal noise; or,

e. Intermittent signal.

(C) Calibration.

1. An electroacoustic calibration check of audiometers shall be made at least every 12 months, or more frequently if indicated by the biological checks, and meet or exceed the specifications outlined in Subsections 1 through 4.9.2., American National Standards for Audiometers, published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Inc. (published in 1969).

2. A calibration chart, showing proof of performance, shall be kept with the audiometer.

(b) Test environment.

(1) For audiometric threshold testing and screening testing, the environmental noise level shall not exceed 41.5 decibel sound pressure level in the 500 Hertz band, 49.5 decibel sound pressure level in the 1000 Hertz band, and 54.5 decibel sound pressure level in the 2000 Hertz band, and 62 decibel sound pressure level in the 4000 Hertz band; or,

(2) The test environment shall be considered adequate if the noise levels do not cause a threshold shift greater than 10 decibels at those frequencies which must be included in a pure tone conduction threshold test. This procedure may be performed on the audiometris.

(c) Testing procedures.

(1) Each pupil shall be given a hearing screening test in kindergarten or first grade and in second, fifth, eighth, tenth or eleventh grade and first entry into the California public school system.

(A) A school district may request a waiver of the hearing screening test for tenth and/or eleventh grade pupils once each school year. The request for a waiver must be in writing and addressed to the State Department of Health Services, Hearing Conservation Specialist. The waiver request must include the dates of the school year for which the waiver is requested and an alternative testing plan that will insure that each pupil at risk of hearing loss will receive testing services. Pupils at risk of hearing loss are: those exposed to loud noises, including loud music; pupils that have been referred for testing by a parent or teacher; repeat tests for those pupils for whom there was a previously documented problem, pupils who have not had a hearing test for three years; and any pupil who has enrolled for the first time in the school district. An approved waiver of the hearing screening test does not exempt a school district from reporting requirements contained in Section 2951, (e).

(B) Each pupil enrolled in a special education program (as described in Section 56001 of the Education Code), other than those pupils enrolled for a hearing problem, shall be given a hearing test when enrolled in the program and every third year thereafter. Hearing tests may be given more frequently as needed, based on the individual education program team's evaluation of each individual pupil.

(2) Pure tone audiometric screening tests shall be conducted at a level not to exceed 25 decibels and shall include the frequencies 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hertz. A pupil's failure to respond to any of the required frequencies constitutes a failure of the screening test. Individual tests may be used for pupils of all ages. Group tests may only be used for pupils who demonstrate reliable results.

(3) Pure tone air conduction threshold tests shall include the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hertz and shall be given to:

(A) All pupils who fail the screening tests;

(B) All pupils who are to be considered for further audiological or otological evaluation.

(d) Referral. The schools shall provide the parents or guardians of children who fail the hearing tests with a written notification of the test results and recommend that a medical and audiological evaluation be obtained whenever the test demonstrates:

(1) A hearing level of 30 decibels or greater for two or more frequencies in an ear at 500, 1000, 2000 or 4000 Hertz, or a hearing level of 40 decibels or greater for one of the frequencies tested, 500 through 4000 Hertz, on two threshold tests completed at an interval of at least two weeks; or

(2) There is evidence of pathology, such as an infection of the outer ear, chronic drainage, or a chronic earache.

(e) Reporting results.

(1) Dates and results of all screening hearing testing shall be recorded on each pupil's health record. Copies of all threshold tests shall be filed with the pupil's health records.

(2) Each school shall prepare an annual report of the school hearing testing program using Annual Report of Hearing Testing forms, PM 100, provided by the State Department of Health Services with copies to the district superintendent and the county superintendent of schools.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 17, § 2951

1. New section filed 10-5-70; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 70, No. 41).
2. Amendment filed 6-28-73; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 73, No. 26).
3. Repealer and new section filed 7-7-87; operative 8-6-87 (Register 87, No. 29).
4. New subsection (c)(1)(A) and newly designated subsection (c)(1)(B) filed 3-7-95; operative 4-6-95 (Register 95, No. 10).

Note: Authority cited: Section 208, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 1685 and 1686, Health and Safety Code; and Sections 44879 and 56001, Education Code.