Hearing/Vision Screening for Children

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is given the authority by the Ohio Revised Code to set the hearing and vision screening requirements for school children. ODH sets the requirements for what grades are routinely screened each year, what equipment is acceptable to use, what specific hearing and vision tests are needed to perform the screenings and the referral criteria.

The Hearing and Vision Conservation Program is a program of early detection, diagnosis and treatment of children with hearing and vision problems. Besides providing school-screening standards, the program conducts a statewide survey of school vision and hearing screening programs and provides training for people who do screening.

Children who do not pass school hearing and vision screening should be referred to their medical providers or may attend ODH's Hearing and Vision Specialty Clinics. ODH stresses that hearing and vision screening, while a valuable public health procedure, is not a substitute for a professional examination. To find more information regarding ODH specialty clinics, please refer to the program description in Medical Specialty Clinics for Children.

Mailing Address:
Ohio Department of Health
Hearing/Vision Screening for Children
246 N. High Street, 6th FL
Columbus, OH 43215

Telephone: (614) 466-5332
Fax: (614) 728-6793

E-mail: BCFHS@odh.ohio.gov

Last Updated: 01/11/07
Last reviewed: 04/09/07

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