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| Hearing Screening |
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The Hearing Screening Program supports local health department screening of children at least once between the ages of three and five years and every other year between the ages of five and 12 years to prevent permanent repercussions of hearing impairment by the application of appropriate treatments. A few local health departments also screen children who are younger than age three using behavioral techniques which are sensitive only to identify a severe-profound loss.
The program includes two stages of screening (preliminary and threshold). About 5% of all children screened require a medical referral. Children who are referred are assisted by local health department staff to obtain a medical evaluation either from a private provider or a Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), Medical Services Administration, Children's Special Health Care Services (CSHCS) sponsored otology clinic. Local health departments provide initial screening, retesting, and referral of children who do not pass the threshold testing.
- Local health department staff are trained as technicians as either an EPSDT screener or school screener. They attend a two-day training for preliminary screening to provide them with knowledge and skills for EPSDT Program screening. Technicians doing school screenings attend an intensive three-week didactic and clinical practicum training which prepares them for all stages of the screening process for pre-school and school age children.
- Quality assurance is provided for the approximately 150 local health department threshold technicians by the MDCH audiology consultants through field visits and required biennial skills update workshops. In local health departments, the Hearing Program Coordinator also provides quality assurance.
- Serous otitis media is the most commonly identified and treated problem.
- Follow-up is required to assure that service was received or to facilitate the child receiving service from a CSHCS otology clinic. Local health departments also provide community education on hearing conservation.
Services:
Hearing Program Forms:
Mail to: Jennifer Dakers
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