As part of Health and Safety Code, Chapter 36, the Hearing Screening Program requires that all children enrolled for the first time in any public, private, parochial, or denominational school or in a Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) licensed child care center and licensed child care home in Texas, or who meet certain grade criteria, must be screened or have a professional examination for possible hearing problems.

The requirements for hearing screening [PDF 584KB] apply each year for children enrolled in any licensed child care center and licensed child care home or school program.

To collect screening information for each child, a facility may use its own screening form or duplicate one provided by the Department of State Health Services upon request: Hearing Screening Form M-40 [PDF 70KB]

In either case, there must be a screening record on file for each child enrolled. The following data must be recorded. 

• Child's Name
• Type of Screening
• Date, Screener 
• Screening Results

Annual screening results for hearing screening activities should be submitted to the Department of State Health Services online on the Vision, Hearing, and Spinal Screening Annual Reporting Survey (VHSSARS) by June 30 of each year.   

Screening Procedures

For hearing screening, the results of the pure-tone audiometric Sweep-Check Screen must be recorded for both the right and left ears. A Sweep-Check Screen is to be conducted at an intensity less than or equal to 25 dB; at the following frequencies: 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hertz.

Attention: Students with Cochlear Implants and Hearing Aids:

Students with cochlear implants:

• Do Not screen them. Contact the child’s parent or legal guardian to update their health records. Verify whether the child is being seen by a Licensed Professional or follow through with the referral process if no recent health records are available.

Students with Hearing Aids:

• Do Not screen children with bilateral hearing aids. If one hearing aid, screen only the ear with no hearing aid. If the child fails, follow up with the parent before referral. Follow the same steps to update the child’s health records. Support any additional considerations for the child in the facility, if needed.

View List of Vision and Hearing Screening Regional Coordinators.