West Virginia Hearing Screening Requirements for Newborns and School-Aged Children

The following information summarizes hearing screening programs for newborns and school-aged children.

This information has been collected by researching individual state statutes, regulations and policy documents, and by contacting each state. Please be advised that regulations and policy may change at any time, so always check with your state for the most up-to-date information.

Newborn Screening

Screening

All birthing facilities in West Virginia will perform, or cause to be performed, a screen for hearing loss prior to discharge.

Intervention

According to policy: All screening test results should be reported to parents, guardians, and primary care provider prior to the infant's discharge.

Standards/Protocols

According to policy: Screening is to be performed, using either Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) or Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs), following the equipment manufacturer's guidelines, by personnel appropriately trained.

Tracking/Reporting

According to policy: If an infant fails the initial and second screening tests in one or both ears, the parents and the primary care provider should be advised. Arrangements for diagnostic testing should be made by the primary care provider or other designated staff as soon as possible. Right From The Start personnel will be contacted to offer assistance with this process. The Bureau for Public Health will be following all cases requiring diagnostic testing, to assure that families with children who are experiencing hearing loss are linked to appropriate community-based services.

School-Age Screening

Ages/Populations Screened

All children entering public school for the first time in the state shall be given prior to their enrollments screening tests to determine if they might have vision or hearing impairments or speech and language disabilities.

Who Can Screen

County boards of education shall conduct these screening tests for all children through the use of trained personnel.

Training for Screeners

Training for screeners is not addressed by laws/regulations.

Type of Testing

Type of testing is not addressed by laws/regulations.

Equipment Standards

Equipment standards are not addressed by laws/regulations.

Follow-up Protocols & Documentation

Parents or guardians of children who are found to have vision or hearing impairments or speech and language disabilities shall be notified of the results of these tests and advised that further diagnosis and treatment of the impairments or disabilities by qualified professional personnel is recommended.

Resources

The information contained herein was collected and summarized annually. For detailed information on hearing screening requirements, visit these websites:

Newborn Screening Statute: W.Va. Code §16-22A-1

Newborn Hearing Screening Policy

School-Age Screening Statute: W. Va. Code § 18-5-17

Questions regarding this document? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.