La. Admin. Code tit. 48 § V-2209

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section V-2209 - Hearing Screening Procedures

A. Personnel. Hearing screening will only be performed by:

1. board eligible or board certified physicians with special training in auditory brainstem response testing and/or otoacoustic emissions and in infant hearing testing. Evidence of training must be submitted to the office;

2. audiologists licensed by the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology with special training in auditory brainstem response testing and/or otoacoustic emissions testing and in infant hearing testing. Evidence of training must besubmitted to the office;

3. persons trained and supervised by personnel meeting requirements for §2209. A.1 above.

a. A board-certified or board-eligible physician or licensed audiologist who is supervising another individual performing hearing screening must at least be accessible by telephone while the screenings are being performed, review a percentage of the screening documentation and copies of the newborn hearing screening report and perform periodic direct observation of each individual at least once per month as they perform hearing screenings. After an individual supervised by an audiologist or physician has performed hearing screening under the above supervision for one year, direct observation every three months is required.

Note: To minimize liability it is recommended that the standard for special training be by an accredited medical or educational institution and include sufficient practicum for proficiency. Any deviation from this recommended standard may increase liability.

B. Test Procedures. The following test procedures are the only acceptable methods for use in infant hearing screening:

1. Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) either automated or non-automated;

2. Evoked Otoacoustic Emission (EOAE);

3. test levels, failure criteria and all other test parameters are set by protocols established by the office, upon recommendations of the State Advisory Council.

C. Test Environment. The facility providing the hearing screening tests shall make all efforts possible to insure testing is conducted in a quiet environment.

D. Calibration of Equipment. Hearing screening equipment shall be calibrated annually and documentation maintained at the screening site.

E. Exemptions. Any requests for exemptions from hospitals or other birthing sites unable to perform hearing screening on all at-risk patients before discharge must be made in writing to the office. Exemptions will be considered on a site-by-site basis considering birth population, financial status, availability of services and other factors. Birthing sites requesting exemptions will be required to have an alternative testing site available for referral of at risk infants needing hearing screening within seven calendar days of discharge.

La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § V-2209

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 19:1431 (November 1993), amended LR 28:838 (April 2002).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 46:2261-2267.