Section 216-RICR-20-10-4.14 - Hearing Screening4.14.1General Hearing Screening RequirementsA. Students in preschool programs operated by public school districts, and all students in kindergarten, first (1st), second (2nd), and third (3rd) grades and any student(s) new to a school without a prior record ofa hearing screening must be given a hearing screening test by a properly trained and qualified person in accordance with the guidelines of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) incorporated at § 4.2(G) of this Part.B. Students who failed the hearing screening tests in previous years, repeat a grade, have a history of hearing difficulty or pathology, are enrolled in curricular or extracurricular activities where there is exposure to noise levels that meet or exceed current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards incorporated at § 4.2(I) of this Part, or are suspected by school personnel of a hearing loss must be screened as often as is necessary.C. The "passing" criteria for the hearing screening test shall be in accordance with the guidelines of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) incorporated at § 4.2(G) of this Part.D. The screening must consist of an initial Otoacoustics Emission hearing test. Students who fail the initial screen must be re-screened within four (4) weeks with tympanometry and pure tone in accordance with the American Speech/Language and Hearing guidelines incorporated at § 4.2(G) of this Part.E. Any student who provides documentation from a parent that a hearing screening test has been performed in accordance with § 4.14.1(A) of this Part is exempt from this screening requirement.1. In the absence of this documentation from the parent, the school is required to make provisions for the screening.4.14.2EquipmentAll equipment utilized in the hearing screenings must be calibrated according to the American National Standards Institute Specifications for Audiometers incorporated at § 4.2(H) of this Part.
4.14.3Personnel RequirementsA. A school nurse is responsible for coordinating the requirements of this section.B. Personnel who may perform the screening requirements of this section include: an audiologist, speech language pathologist, school nurse, audiometric aide under the supervision of a licensed audiologist, or a speech/language pathology assistant under the supervision of a certified speech language pathologist.C. Any supporting personnel utilized by an audiologist/speech language pathologist in the hearing screening program must meet the requirements in Part 40-05-33 of this Title, Speech Pathologists and Audiologists.4.14.4Follow-up && Documentation RequirementsA. The parent of a student who does not meet the "passing" criteria of the hearing screening must be notified, in accordance with the requirements of § 4.14.3(B) of this Part, and recommended to obtain a comprehensive audiological evaluation and/or medical follow-up with the student's primary care provider.B. Students identified with a potentially educationally-significant hearing impairment must be referred by the school nurse for in-school supportive accommodations, Teacher Support Team, or other educational services, as appropriate or as specified in 200-RICR- 20-30-6, Regulations Governing the Education of Children with Disabilities.C. The hearing status of students referred for further evaluation must be confirmed and noted by the school nurse within three (3) months of the initial referral.D. A student's hearing screening results must be entered into the school health record by the school nurse, or the person performing the screening. At a minimum, the following components must be noted in the record:1. Date screening completed;3. Follow-up plan, as indicated.216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-20-10-4.14
Amended effective 4/11/2022