Summary
The State Board of Health (Board) makes rules for the yearly hearing screenings done in Washington schools. These rules are in chapter 246-760 WAC. The rules ensure schools can identify students with hearing difficulties and refer them for follow-up care. The Board approved changes to the rule at its June 4, 2025, meeting. These changes take effect on August 15, 2025.
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For More Information
Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.210.020
State Board of Health Contact: Molly Dinardo, molly.dinardo@sboh.wa.gov
If you would like to receive future updates for these rules (e.g., email notices with the next steps on this project and other opportunities to be involved), you can fill out the auditory screening rulemaking interest form online here: https://airtable.com/appInSCDg3PQGljEz/pagLMwUygEb81rYhw/form
Additional Background
In 2023, the Washington State Board of Health (Board) began updating the state’s school hearing screening standards (chapter 246-760 WAC). These rules set requirements for annual screenings, including which students are screened, how often, approved tools, referral criteria, procedures, and staff qualifications.
The Board approved changes to chapter 246-760 WAC at its public meeting on June 4, 2025. These changes, which are outlined in the concise explanatory statement, include:
- Aligning the hearing and vision screening sections in chapter 246-760 WAC. The current hearing guidelines haven’t changed since 2002.
- Simplifying the language to help school districts and screening staff can better understand the rules.
- Replacing terms like “hearing loss,” “hearing problems,” and “pass/fail” with more positive, inclusive language, without changing screening results. This is based on feedback from the Deaf community, parents, and providers.
- Following national standards by offering optional otoacoustic emission (OAE) screening for students who cannot complete pure tone audiometry due to age, development, language, or other reasons.
These updates aim to help school districts and screening staff improve hearing screening programs while keeping the rules clear and effective. They take effect on August 15, 2025.
If you have questions or would like more information on these rules, please contact Molly Dinardo at schoolauditoryscreening@sboh.wa.gov or 564-669-3455.
This project was announced on October 18, 2023, and can be found under WSR 23-22-004 (CR-101).
The draft proposed rules and rules hearing were announced on April 22, 2025. They are listed under WSR 25-09-146 (CR-102).
The final adopted rules were announced on July 15, 2025. They are listed under WSR 25-15-072 (CR-103)
