4753-6-01. Screening

Screening is for the purpose of initial identification of persons who may have hearing, speech and/or language disorders. Verbal or written indications or descriptive statements about the results of a screening shall be limited to whether the individual passed or failed the screening procedure(s). The report of the findings shall state that the findings should not be construed as a complete evaluation, nor shall it offer remedial steps other than appropriate referral for complete examination by an audiologist, speech-language pathologist, or physician, as applicable. Criteria for failure shall be developed in consultation with an individual licensed in the area of the procedure pursuant to Chapter 4753. or Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code.

(A) "Audiologic screening" means the performance of audiologic testing procedures for the purpose of initial identification of persons who may have hearing disorders and includes, but is not limited to, the following procedures:

(1) Pure tone air conduction screening, tympanometry screening, and acoustic reflex screening.

(a) "Pure tone air conduction screening" means a pass/fail procedure performed at 20 dB HL at the frequencies of 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz, obtained with earphones to prevent or detect early auditory impairment, disorder, and disability and to identify individuals who require further audiologic assessment or treatment or referral for other professional services.

(b) "Tympanometry screening" means a pass/fail dynamic measure of middle ear compliance of no less than .2ml of H20, within the pressure range of +150 to -150 daPa obtained with screening tips.

(c) "Acoustic reflex screening" means a test measuring the presence or absence of acoustic reflexes when assessed with stimuli of 1000 and 2000 Hz at 100 dB at the point of maximum middle ear compliance.

(d) Pure tone air conduction screening, tympanometry screening, and acoustic reflex screening must be performed by one of the following persons:

(i) An audiologist licensed under section 4753.07 of the Revised Code;

(ii) An audiology aide licensed under section 4753.072 of the Revised Code when working under the supervision of a licensed audiologist, in accordance with the supervision plan on file in the board office;

(iii) A speech-language pathologist licensed under section 4753.07 of the Revised Code when performing the screening limited to a pass/fail determination;

(iv) A speech-language pathology aide licensed under section 4753.072 of the Revised Code when working under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist in accordance with the supervision plan on file in the board office.

(2) "Newborn and infant hearing screening" means the use of audiological procedures to identify newborn and infants from birth through twenty-three months with hearing impairment, as defined in rule pursuant to division (A) of section 3701.504 of the Revised Code and section 3701.508 of the Revised Code.

(a) Newborn and infant hearing screening includes the use of audiological procedures including, but not limited to, auditory brainstem response and/or otoacoustic emissions.

(b) Newborn and infant hearing screening must be performed in compliance with rules promulgated by the "Public Health Council" and administered by the Ohio department of health.

(c) Section 3701.505 of the Revised Code authorizes speech-language pathologists and speech-language pathology aides to perform the screenings without holding a license as an audiology aide.

(3) "School hearing screening" means a pure tone air conduction screening, tympanometry screening, or acoustic reflex screening conducted for the purpose of hearing conservation programs for children.

(a) School hearing screenings must be performed by one of the following persons:

(i) An audiologist licensed under section 4753.07 of the Revised Code;

(ii) An audiology aide licensed under section 4753.072 of the Revised Code when working under the supervision of a licensed audiologist, in accordance with the supervision plan on file in the board office;

(iii) A speech-language pathologist licensed under section 4753.07 of the Revised Code when performing the screening limited to a pass/fail determination for the identification of individuals with other disorders of communication;

(iv) A speech-language pathology aide licensed under section 4753.072 of the Revised Code when working under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist in accordance with the supervision plan on file in the board office.

(b) "Hearing conservation programs for children" means the programs and activities of the Ohio department of health pursuant to sections 3313.50, 3313.673, 3313.68, 3313.69, 3313.73, and 3709.22 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Physiologic screening test" means an objective screening measure of a body process involved in communication.

(a) Physiologic screening tests include, but are not limited to, automated auditory evoked response screening and otoacoustic emission screening.

(b) Physiologic screening tests must be performed by one of the following persons:

(i) An audiologist licensed under section 4753.07 of the Revised Code;

(ii) An audiology aide licensed under section 4753.072 of the Revised Code when working under the supervision of a licensed audiologist in accordance with the supervision plan on file in the board office;

(iii) A person performing newborn and infant screening in accordance with the rules promulgated by the "Public Health Council" and administered by the Ohio department of health.

(B) "Speech-language screening" means the use of procedures for the purpose of initial identification of persons who may have speech or language disorders.

(1) Speech-language screening includes, but is not limited to the following procedures:

(a) "Speech screening" means a pass/fail procedure to identify individuals who require further speech (articulation, voice, resonance, and fluency) or orofacial myofunctional assessment or referral for other professional services.

(b) "Language screening" means a pass/fail procedure to identify individuals who require further language assessment or treatment or referral for other professional services.

(2) Speech or language screening must be performed by one of the following persons:

(a) A speech-language pathologist licensed under section 4753.07 of the Revised Code;

(b) A speech-language pathology aide licensed under section 4753.072 of the Revised Code when working under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist in accordance with the supervision plan on file in the board office;

(c) An audiologist licensed under section 4753.07 of the Revised Code when performing speech or language screening limited to a pass/fail determination.

(C) "Occupational hearing test" means a diagnostic test of auditory sensitivity performed by the use of air conduction threshold testing that is conducted for the purpose of environmental hearing conservation/prevention programs, pursuant to regulations promulgated by the United States department of labor, occupational safety and health administration.

(1) Air conduction threshold testing is not a hearing screening.

(2) "Environmental hearing conservation/prevention programs" as used in this rule means programs designed to reduce the effect of noise exposure in the workplace on the hearing of employees or on the community, pursuant to regulations promulgated by the United States department of labor, occupational safety and health administration.

(3) Occupational hearing tests must be performed by one of the following persons:

(a) An audiologist licensed under section 4753.07 of the Revised Code;

(b) An audiology aide licensed under section 4753.072 of the Revised Code when working under the supervision of a licensed audiologist in accordance with the supervision plan on file in the board office, under both of the following conditions, unless waived by the board for good cause shown:

(i) The aide is trained to perform occupational hearing tests and holds current certification by the "Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation" ("CAOHC");

(ii) The testing is conducted by automatic pure tone audiometry.

(D) All of the following conditions must be met whenever an aide licensed under section 4753.072 of the Revised Code performs a pure tone air conduction screening, physiologic screening, speech screening, or language screening:

(1) The criteria for failure of the screening shall be established by the supervising licensed audiologist or speech-language pathologist.

(2) The aide's verbal or written indication or descriptive statements about the screening results shall be limited to a statement of whether the client passed or failed the procedure.

(3) Nothing in the aide's report of the findings shall be construed as a complete evaluation.

(4) The aide's report shall not suggest remedial steps other than a referral for a complete examination by a licensed professional.

(E) This rule shall not be construed to restrict the following persons from conducting screening in the practice of their profession in compliance with the laws and rules governing their profession:

(1) A hearing aid dealer or fitter licensed under Chapter 4747. of the Revised Code when engaging in the measurement and testing of a person's hearing for the purpose of selecting, adapting, and selling a hearing aid to the person.

(2) A physician licensed under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code or an individual carrying out any properly delegated responsibilities within the normal practice of medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery.

(3) A nurse registered or licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code when performing those acts and utilizing those procedures that are within the scope of practice of professional or practical nursing as defined in Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code and the ethics of the nursing profession, provided the nurse does not claim to the public to be a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, and provided that the nurse has been properly trained to perform screening.

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 09/19/2016 and 09/19/2021
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4753.05
Rule Amplifies: 4753.01(C), 4753.01(G)
Prior Effective Dates: 11/16/92 (Emer.), 2/9/93 06/26/2003, 4/24/06

Prior History: (Effective: 12/01/2011
R.C. 119.032 review dates: 09/08/2011 and 12/01/2016
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4753.05
Rule Amplifies: 4753.01(C), 4753.01(G)
Prior Effective Dates: 11/16/92 (Emer.), 2/9/93 06/26/2003, 4/24/06 )