Academy Weighs in to Support Oklahoma Legislation

The Academy recently submitted letters of support for two bills pending in the Oklahoma legislature.  H.B. 3951 would require hearing screening for children at certain intervals in elementary and secondary schools, and establish best practice protocols for this screening. The Academy’s letter encouraged support for this legislation that would bring Oklahoma in line with the 70 percent of states that require hearing screening for school-aged children.

“School-aged hearing screening programs are critical to identify children with hearing loss who were not identified at birth, lost to follow-up, or developed hearing loss after that time. Hearing deficits are one of the Health Barriers to Learning (HBLs)—health conditions that when untreated or unmanaged can interfere with a child’s ability to learn and succeed in school.”

H.B. 3952 would add an audiologist as a member of the State Department of Education Literacy Instruction Team.

“Because learning to read is typically an auditory-based process, and audiologists are experts in audition, the addition of such a professional to the Literary Instruction Team would be invaluable in helping families better understand the connection among hearing, listening, and reading.”