AUTHORITY: Authorized by and implementing the Child Vision and Hearing Test Act [410 ILCS 205].

SOURCE: Adopted and codified at 6 Ill. Reg. 10998, effective August 30, 1982; amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 4270, effective March 26, 1999; amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 4956, effective March 20, 2000.

SUBPART A: GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 675.10  Applicability

 

a)         The Child Vision and Hearing Test Act authorizes the Department to administer a program of hearing screening services for Illinois children. Hearing screening services must be administered to all children by certified hearing screening technicians or licensed audiologists using the criteria established under the Act. This Part applies to hearing screening services required under the Act.

 

b)         The Department shall delegate responsibility to other State agencies, local health departments, school districts, or other community agencies, to develop and maintain periodic vision and hearing screening services.  The Department shall make these delegations in conformance with existing services and with the agreement of the entity receiving the delegation.

 

(Source:  Amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 4956, effective March 20, 2000)

 

Section 675.20  Definitions

 

As used in this Part:

 

            "Act" means the Child Vision and Hearing Test Act [410 ILCS 205].

 

            "Audiological Review" means a review of hearing screening results by an audiologist.

 

            "Audiologist" means any person licensed to provide audiology services as provided in the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act [225 ILCS 110].

 

            "Calibration Check" means a listening and visual observation and an electro-acoustic evaluation of the audiometer to include frequency count, attenuator linearity, and earphone sound pressure level output.

 

            "Certified Hearing Screening Technician" means a person who has successfully completed the requirements of the training, written examination and practicum evaluation provided through the Department and who holds a valid Hearing Screening Technician Certificate issued by the Department.

 

            "Department" means the Illinois Department of Public Health.

 

            "Educational Screening" means a review of the student's current grade placement; classroom functioning level; achievement scores; teachers' ratings of classroom performance regarding attention and concentration, reading, arithmetic, spelling, oral language and written language skills; and teachers' descriptions of oral and written language performance, ability to hear in the classroom, and speech development.

 

            "Hearing Screening Services" means on-going programs of:  community education regarding the identification, prevention, cause, nature and effects of hearing impairments, program planning, management, evaluation, reporting, identification  audiometry, referral, and follow-up procedures.

 

            "Physician" means any person licensed to practice medicine in all its branches as provided in the Medical Practice Act of 1987 [225 ILCS 60].

 

(Source:  Amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 4956, effective March 20, 2000)

 

Section 675.30  Incorporated Materials

 

a)         The following document is incorporated in this Part:

 

            ANSI 3.6, 1996 (ASA81)

            Specifications for Audiometers

            American National Standards Institute

            1430 Broadway

            New York, New York 10018, or

            ASA Standards Distribution Center

            1650 Bluegrass Lakes Parkway

            Alpharetta GA  30239-6996

 

b)         This incorporation by reference refers to the materials on the date specified.

 

c)         Copies of the incorporated document are available for inspection and duplication by the public at the Department's Central Office, Office of Health and Wellness, Division of Health Assessment and Screening, 535 West Jefferson Street, Springfield, Illinois 62761.

 

(Source:  Added at 24 Ill. Reg. 4956, effective March 20, 2000)

SUBPART B: STANDARDS, PROCEDURES, TECHNIQUES AND CRITERIA FOR HEARING SCREENING

 

Section 675.100  Instrumentation

 

a)         Pure-tone audiometers utilized for identification audiometry must comply with minimum specifications established by the American National Standards Institute as published in the American National Standard Specifications for Audiometers.  (ANSI 3.6 1996)

 

b)         Pure-tone audiometers utilized for identification audiometry must undergo an electro-acoustic coupler calibration check a minimum of once per calendar year.  The electro-acoustic calibration check shall include the following measurements:

 

1)         frequency count;

 

2)         attenuator linearity; and

 

3)         earphone  sound pressure level output.

 

c)         Annual calibration check services can be acquired from either the Department (for a $10 fee) or other qualified entity (a dealer or manufacturer who has technical knowledge and experience in repair and maintenance of audiometric equipment).  Any audiometer that does not meet ANSI 3.6 (1996) and/or does not pass the listening or visual check is required to be calibrated and/or repaired by a dealer or manufacturer who has technical knowledge and experience in repair and maintenance of audiometric equipment.

 

(Source:  Amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 4956, effective March 20, 2000)

 

Section 675.110  Frequency of Screening

 

a)         Hearing screening services shall be provided annually for all preschool children three years of age or older in any public or private educational program or licensed child care facility.

 

b)         Hearing screening services shall be provided annually for all school age children who are in grades K (kindergarten), 1, 2, and 3; are in any special education class; have been referred by a teacher; or are transfer students.  These screening services shall be provided in all public, private, and parochial schools. Hearing screening is recommended in grades 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12.

 

c)         In lieu of the screening services required in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section, a completed and signed report form, indicating that the child has had an ear examination by a physician and an audiological evaluation completed by an audiologist within the previous 12 months is acceptable.

 

d)         In cases of known hearing loss, an audiological evaluation completed by an audiologist within the previous 12 months may be accepted instead of threshold monitoring services.

 

e)         Hearing screening services in public, private and parochial schools shall be provided annually for all special education children using screening methods contained in Section 675.120 of this Part.

 

f)         The parent or legal guardian of a student may object to hearing screening tests for their  children on religious grounds.  If a religious objection is made, a written and signed statement from the parent or legal guardian detailing such objections must be presented to the local school authority.  General philosophical or moral reluctance to allow hearing screening will not provide a sufficient basis for an exception to statutory requirements.

 

(Source:  Amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 4956, effective March 20, 2000)

 

Section 675.120  Identification Audiometry

 

a)         Screening Procedures

 

1)         For the screening stage of identification audiometry, the following pure-tone frequencies and intensity levels shall be used:

 

 

Test Frequencies in		Screening Levels in
Cycles Per Second		Decibels
500 Hz	25 dB
1000 Hz	25 dB
2000 Hz	25 dB
4000 Hz	25 dB

 

2)         If a child fails to hear any tone at 25 dB, you should immediately raise the level to 35 dB and present it again.  If the child responds at the 35 dB level, move on to the next test frequency and present the tone at 25 dB.  In the event the child's condition is such that recommended screening procedures are not applicable, the child should receive alternative services if the child is considered at risk for hearing difficulties.

 

b)         Pass – Fail Criteria

 

1)         A child is considered to have "failed" the screening test, if he:

 

A)        fails to hear any tone at 35 dB in either ear; or

 

B)        fails to hear any two tones at 25 dB in the same ear.

 

2)         Children "failing" the screening test should be given a second screening identical to the first and judged by the same criteria.  The second screening should occur within two weeks of the first test.  Those children who fail the second screening should then have a threshold test.

 

c)         Threshold Test Procedures

It is recommended that the right ear be tested first.  Always begin testing at 1000 Hz.  After determining threshold at 1000 Hz, continue with the following frequencies:  2000, 4000, 8000, 500 and 250 Hz.  Then switch to the opposite ear and repeat the entire procedure at 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000, 500 and 250 Hz.

 

Section 675.130  Referral Criteria

 

a)         A child is considered to have "failed" the threshold test and is referred for a medical examination and an educational screening evaluation if either or both of the following criteria are met:

 

1)         Any two speech frequencies (500-1000-2000 Hz) in the same ear which fall on or below the referral line, or

 

2)         Any two consecutive frequencies in the same ear which fall on or below the referral line (250-500, 2000-4000 or 4000-8000 Hz).

 

b)         The referral line is at 30 dB for the frequencies 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz and at 40 dB for the frequencies 250, 4000 and 8000 Hz.

 

Section 675.140  Referral

 

a)         Medical examination must be immediately recommended in written form to parents or guardians of all children who meet the referral criteria specified in Section 675.130 as a result of threshold testing.  The names of these children shall be reported to the local education agency (LEA), or its designee, for educational screening, including audiological review.

 

b)         The screening agent or its designee shall initiate recommendations for medical examination, educational screening, and further audiological evaluation and shall coordinate those activities necessary to complete medical management of the child suspected of a hearing impairment.

 

(Source:  Amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 4956, effective March 20, 2000)

SUBPART C: GENERAL STANDARDS FOR TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS OF PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE HEARING SCREENING SERVICES

 

Section 675.200  Hearing Screening Personnel

 

Hearing screening services shall be provided by a hearing screening technician trained and certified by the Department.  Any person with a high school education or its equivalent who is working in or supervising or has an agreement to work in or supervise a school hearing screening program may apply for training.

 

(Source:  Amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 4956, effective March 20, 2000)

 

Section 675.210  Application for Training and Certification

 

An applicant for training and certification as a hearing screening technician shall complete and submit to the Department an Application for Training and Certification Form, provided by the Department.

 

(Source:  Added at 23 Ill. Reg. 4270, effective March 26, 1999)

 

Section 675.220  Training for Hearing Screening Technicians

 

a)         The Department shall provide or authorize a training course to prepare persons to qualify for a hearing screening services certificate.

 

b)         The training course for hearing screening technicians shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following topics: establishing and managing a hearing conservation program, hearing conservation for children, anatomy of the ear, disorders of hearing in children, the audiometer, physics of sound, the measurement of hearing, selecting a testing room, threshold tests, testing preschool children, testing exceptional children, and follow-up.  The training course shall also include laboratory practice, practicum experience, and a written examination.

 

(Source:  Added at 23 Ill. Reg. 4270, effective March 26, 1999)

 

Section 675.230  Certification of Hearing Screening Technicians

 

a)         The Department shall issue a certificate after the training participant:

 

1)         Submits the training and certification fee as required in Section 675.300;

 

2)         Fully attends all portions of the training course;

 

3)         Obtains a score of 80 percent or better on the written examination; and

 

4)         Demonstrates proficiency during a hearing training practicum.

 

b)         Practicum participants will be rated on the following items: screening, threshold, audiometric skills, general skills, and overall skills.  All above items must be rated acceptable to qualify for certification.

 

(Source:  Added at 23 Ill. Reg. 4270, effective March 26, 1999)

 

Section 675.240  Recertification of Hearing Screening Technicians

 

a)         A hearing screening technician certificate shall be valid for three years.

 

b)         The Department shall send expiration and renewal notices to certified persons no later than 60 days before the expiration date of the certificate. Such notices shall be sent to the last known address of the person to whom the certificate was issued.

 

c)         The following items shall be submitted to the Department for certification renewal and shall be post-marked no later than 30 days prior to the expiration date of the certificate:

 

1)         a completed Certification Renewal Form;

 

2)         the renewal fee, as required in Section 675.300 of this Part; and

 

3)         Documentation of satisfactory completion of a recertification workshop provided or authorized by the Department, or a study project provided by the Department.

 

d)         The Department shall renew the certification upon receipt of the items specified in subsections (c)(1), (2), and (3) of this Section.

 

e)         Failure to receive a renewal notice shall not relieve the certified hearing screening technician of the obligation to submit the renewal form, pay the renewal fee 30 days prior to the expiration date of the certification, and successfully complete a recertification workshop or study project.

 

(Source:  Added at 23 Ill. Reg. 4270, effective March 26, 1999)

 

Section 675.250  Lapsed Certificate

 

a)         Any certification not renewed prior to its expiration date shall be deemed lapsed and shall be null and void.

 

b)         Any certification that has lapsed for a period of less than 2 years may be renewed by completing the recertification requirement and paying the fees specified in Section 675.300 of this Part.

 

c)         Any certification that has lapsed for a period of 2 years or more may be renewed by meeting the requirements of Section 675.230 of this Part.

 

(Source:  Added at 23 Ill. Reg. 4270, effective March 26, 1999)

SUBPART D: FEE STRUCTURE

 

Section 675.300  Fees

 

The Department shall implement the following fee structure:

 

a)         Applicants shall be required to pay to the Department or its designee a fee for attending a training course.  The fee for training shall not exceed the actual cost of training.  Failure to appear for training on the scheduled date, at the time and place specified, after the applicant's application and fee for training has been received and acknowledged by the Department, shall result in forfeiture of the fee.  No additional fee, beyond the training fee, is required for initial certification.

 

b)         The recertification fee is $30 every three years.

 

c)         The fee for the issuance of a replacement certificate or a certificate with a change of name or address, other than at renewal time, is $10.  No fee is required for name or address change on Department records when no duplicate or replacement certificate is issued.

 

d)         The fee for an electro-acoustic calibration check provided by the Department is $10 for each audiometer checked.

 

(Source:  Added at 23 Ill. Reg. 4270, effective March 26, 1999)