(a) At a minimum, hearing services include hearing evaluation once every 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; 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 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 transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions testing.
• (2) Two to five months.  Subjective screens.  Question if passed physiologic newborn hearing screen months in both ears in addition to caregiver concerns regarding hearing sensitivity.
• (3) Six to twelve months.  Infants with JCIH risk factors are screened with physiologic or behavioral months measures including either visual reinforcement audiometry, auditory brainstem response testing or otoacoustic emissions testing.  Infants without risk factors are screened subjectively withy auditory behavior development checklist.
• (4) 18 months.  Subjective screen.  To include brief questionnaire regarding appropriate speech and language development.
• (5) 24 months.  Children with JCIH risk factors screened with physiologic or behavioral measures including visual reinforcement audiometry, otoacoustic emissions, or acoustic immittance/reflex testing.  Subjective screen for all others to include concerns of caregivers and brief questionnaire regarding speech and language development.
• (6) Three years. Behavioral or physiologic screen including either conditioned play audiometry, acoustic immittance testing (including reflexes), pneumatic otoscopy, or otoacoustic emissions.
• (7) Four years.  Behavioral or physiologic screen including either conditioned play audiometry, acoustic immittance testing (including reflexes), or otoacoustic emissions.
• (8) Five to six years.  Behavioral screen if not completed in school including conventional behavioral pure tone screening.
• (9) Eight, ten and 12 years.  Behavioral screen if not completed in school including conventional behavioral pure tone screening.
• (10) 15 and 18 years.  Subjective screening to include concerns regarding school and home communicative performance.