Hearing Screening

Purpose of screening: To detect students who may have hearing loss and should be referred for full evaluation of hearing abilities. Students who pass a hearing screening should not be referred for full hearing evaluation unless there are additional circumstances which may warrant testing. Screenings are conducted by the school speech-language pathologist, with oversight and support by the district educational audiologist.

Populations Screened

  • All preschool, kindergarten, first grade, and sixth grade students in the Boise District.

  • Students new to the Boise School District.

  • Additional students may be screened upon request with parent permission. Click Here for the Parent Permission Form

* If it is noted that a student (of any grade) does not have screening data recorded in IC, those students should be screened as soon as possible.

* Access New-To-District and Boise Online School student lists by selecting Index > Ad Hoc Reporting> Filter Designer then selecting +SLP. Click "Test" to generate a pop-up window that can be used to print student names. Click "Select" or double click the desired list to populate names in the sidebar for faster data entry.

Screening Procedures

  • Positive response to puretones of 500, 1k, 2k, and 4k Hz at 20 dB (25 dB @ 500 permissible based on ambient noise levels).

  • If a student does not respond to all tones in each ear, the student will be re-screened in 3-6 weeks. This allows any temporary congestion (i.e. middle ear problems) to be separated from students who have chronic ear and/or hearing problems.

  • Students who are not able to participate in standard puretone screening may participate in alternate measures, such as otoacoustic emissions. Contact the BSD audiologist for support screening these students.

  • When students elect not to participate, screening efforts may be logged as "refused to participate" within Infinite Campus.

  • When students are absent, please indicate their absence as a screening. Select "unable to screen" within the results area and use the Comments box to indicate "absent on the day of the hearing screening." Please attempt to screen the student upon their return.

  • Students attending the Boise Online School will be screened through their neighborhood school. Enter "Attends BOS. Unable to Screen." and/or indicate if an appointment was offered.

Goals for Screening during COVID-19

  1. Priority is that screenings will be done with diligence and adhere to SPED minutes you are providing.

    1. Prioritize Kinder and New to District (NTD). Must still screen Pre, Kinder, 1st, and 6th plus NTD

    2. Try to finish Pre, K & 1 by semester if no slide to the Red Category.

    3. Try to add 6th by Spring break (sooner is better in case referral are necessary)

    4. Continue NTD throughout the year (monthly is ideal)

* Work with your principals regarding optimal timing to screen in light of other activities and testing windows

* Please inform your K/1/6/NTD students who are enrolled in the Boise Online School of opportunities to participate in hearing screening.

  1. It is imperative to document in IC any attempts of screening

Possible COVID-Related Screening Strategies

  1. Set-Up/Space Considerations

    1. “Barricade” audiometer using your Plexiglas sneeze guard. Can add white copy paper to the Plexiglas to also limit visual cues to student

    2. Discuss allowed hallway traffic and temporary space option to reduce foot traffic with your principals

  2. Disinfecting Strategies

    1. Sanitize hands of screener and of the student being screened prior to activity

    2. Wipe headphones and cord. Spray a cloth and then wipe the equipment, never spray equipment directly.

    3. Ask the building principal about additional disinfectant options available that may have shorter dwell time. You must check the dwell time and follow the recommended use guidelines. Please be aware that products with shorter contact time are potentially more harmful to your body.

    4. Discuss specific disinfecting strategies with your building principals.

    5. Review ASHA's Guidelines on screening during COVID-19

  3. Other Strategies for Efficiency

    1. Consider co-op loans with other SLPs. With or without the SLPs joining. You can create multiple stations and you will rotate through equipment to reduce wait time.

    2. Consider having the student stand on a carpet dot instead of using a chair. This will reduce contact surfaces and save cleaning of additional furniture.

Referral for Full Audiological Evaluation

  • Please schedule a time for the district audiologist to come to your buildings to conduct an additional hearing screening on site prior to referral.

  • Students who do not pass the school hearing re-screen will be referred for full audiological evaluation. The Speech-Language Pathologist will oversee the referral process.

Interpretation of Notations