The Vision and Hearing Screening Program at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) works to identify children with vision and hearing disorders who attend any public, private, parochial, denominational school or a Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) licensed child care center and licensed child care home in Texas.
Mission
Preschoolers and school children with hearing and vision problems will be identified early and linked to appropriate remedial services. School children will learn about preventive vision and hearing care.
Announcements
Provisional Certificate
Holders
This is a reminder that your
vision, hearing and spinal screening certification will expire this year on
December 31st 2022. Please contact your vision, hearing and spinal
screening regional
coordinators to schedule an in-person recertification class before the
expiration date. Thank you for your cooperation. If you have questions please
contact your regional
coordinator or contact our customer service line at 512-776-7420,
1-800-252-8023 extension 7420, or vhssprogram@dshs.texas.gov.
Regarding Screening Rules During 2021-2022 School Year
Health and Safety Code, Chapter 36 and 25 Texas Administrative
Code Chapter 37 require Public, Private, Parochial, and Denominational Schools
(Schools) and Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Licensed
Child Care Centers and Licensed Child Care Homes (Child Cares) to screen
children for vision, hearing and spinal problems.
The Health Screening Group understands the challenges that
schools, and school districts are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although screening is still required for this school year, DSHS understands and
advises schools and school districts to assess their capacity to safely conduct
screenings. Schools and child cares should notify parents and
follow best practices previous developed by the department.
Visit the Prevent Blindness website for Considerations for Children's Vision Screening Programs During the Covid-19 Pandemic.
DSHS recommends schools notify the parents of children who have missed
or will miss a screening. This notification should inform parents of the missed
screening and encourage them to ask for screenings at their child’s next
well-child appointment with their medical provider. If a parent suspects their
child has a vision, hearing, or spinal problem they should notify the school
nurse or school administration for assistance in obtaining a screening. The
Health Screening Group has developed sample letters for parents for vision and hearing screening and spinal screening that schools may use. The letters
are also available in Spanish: vision and hearing screening - Spanish, spinal screening - Spanish.
Vision, Hearing and
Spinal Screening Reporting Period Begins January 15
The reporting period
for vision, hearing and spinal screening (VHSS) begins on January 15,
2022. Results are required to be submitted to the Department of State
Health Services online at the Child Health Reporting System (CHRS) by June 30 of each year. View the vision, hearing and spinal
screening annual reports flyer.
The
last day to submit your report for this school year is June 30, 2022. After June 30, the reporting system
shuts down and late reporting cannot be submitted.
Expert Panel Provides Recommendations on Using Photoscreening 
The Vision Screening Program determined that current rule allows for the use of photoscreening devices. Texas Administrative Code, Title 25 Part 1, Chapter 37, related to
Vision and Hearing Screening, allows for the use of instrument-based devices following the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) guidelines, as revised, as they apply to age, verbal ability, ability to cooperate with screening, allowable methods of screening in different situations, and referral criteria. AAPOS vision screening recommendations indicate that instrument-based devices, such as photoscreeners, are not recommended for use in children 6 years or over and the visual acuity wall chart screening method is preferred.
In response to stakeholder feedback and as part of HB 3157 implementation activities, the program convened an expert panel to review evidence-based research, best practices, and professional recommendations related to screening children for vision disorders. The meeting was held on the DSHS Main Campus, November 16, 2017. Panelists participated both in person and via conference call. It was an informal, closed meeting and not subject to the open meeting act.
The expert panel provided five recommendations when screening children for vision conditions. View the recommendations.
House Bill 3157 and Photoscreening Use in Schools
The Governor signed
House Bill (HB) 3157, 85th Legislature, Regular Session 2017. It amends Health and Safety Code, Chapter
36, Special Senses
and Communication Disorders and became effective September 1, 2017. HB 3157
does not require that schools use photo screening technology nor require that
schools purchase the equipment. However, it explicitly allows schools to
use photo screening technology as part of the screening process.
Because current rules
allow for the use of photo screening in a manner that is consistent with
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS)
recommendations, rules will not need to be amended to implement HB 3157. View
the current vision and hearing screening
rules. Also, see
our vision screening frequent
questions.
Audiometers
An audiometer measures various aspects of a person's ability to hear. To measure hearing accurately and to ensure that all audiometers perform consistently, Texas law requires that they be registered and calibrated. Read more about audiometers.
Contact Us
Texas Department of State Health Services
Vision and Hearing Screening
PO Box 149347, MC 1818, Austin, Texas 78714-9347
1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756-3199
Phone: 512-776-7420 or toll free 1-800-252-8023, extension 7420
Fax: 512-776-7256
Email:
vhssprogram@dshs.texas.gov
Relay Texas: Dial 7-1-1
External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These sites may not be accessible to people with disabilities.