Library: Policy

317:30-3-65.9. Hearing services

Revised 10-1-18

(a) At a minimum, hearing services include hearing evaluation once every twelve (12) months, hearing aid evaluation if indicated and purchase of a hearing aid when prescribed by a state licensed audiologist who:

(1) holds a certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association of the American Academy of Audiologists; or

(2) has completed the equivalent educational requirements and work experience necessary for the certificate; or

(3) has completed the academic program and is acquiring supervised work experience necessary for the certificate; and

(4) holds a contract with Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to perform such an evaluation and obtains prior authorization for the evaluation.

(b) Interperiodic hearing examinations are allowed at intervals outside the periodicity schedule when a hearing condition is suspected (refer to OAC 317:30-5-676 for amount, duration and scope). The following schedule outlines the services required in the EPSDT/OHCA child-health screening program for hearing services adopted by the OHCA.

(1) Birth. Physiologic screen utilizing automated brainstem response testing or otoacoustic emissions testing.

(2) Two (2) to five (5) months. Subjective screens. Question if passed physiologic newborn hearing screen months in both ears in addition to caregiver concerns regarding hearing sensitivity.

(3) Six (6) to twelve (12) months. Infants with Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) risk factors are screened/assessed with physiologic or behavioral measures which can include visual reinforcement audiometry, acoustic immittance/reflexes testing, auditory brainstem response testing and/or otoacoustic emissions testing. Infants without risk factors are screened subjectively with auditory behavior development checklist.

(4) Eighteen (18) months. Subjective screen. To include brief questionnaire regarding appropriate speech and language development.

(5) Twenty-four (24) months. Members with JCIH risk factors screened/assessed with physiologic or behavioral measures including visual reinforcement audiometry, immittance/reflex testing and/or otoacoustic emissions, or acoustic. Subjective screen for all others to include concerns of caregivers and brief questionnaire regarding speech and language development.

(6) Three (3) years. Behavioral or physiologic screen/assessment which can include either conditioned play audiometry, acoustic immittance testing (including reflexes), pneumatic otoscopy, or otoacoustic emissions.

(7) Four (4) years. Behavioral or physiologic screen/assessment which can include either conditioned play audiometry, acoustic immittance testing (including reflexes), or otoacoustic emissions.

(8) Five (4) to six (6) years. Behavioral screen if not completed in school including conventional behavioral pure tone screening.

(9) Eight (8), ten (10) and twelve (12) years. Behavioral screen if not completed in school including conventional behavioral pure tone screening.

(10) Fifteen (15) and eighteen (18) years. Subjective screening to include concerns regarding school and home communicative performance.