Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 48 - PUBLIC HEALTH-GENERAL
Part V - Preventive Health Services
Subpart 7 - Maternal and Child Health Services
Chapter 21 - Communicative Disorders
Section V-2103 - Description of Services

1. Screening may be performed by trained volunteers, school nurses, health unit personnel, and/or OPPHS personnel depending upon the availability of staff. Communicative Disorders Program personnel provide training in screening activities in accordance with nationally accepted professional standards for audiological screening. Screening equipment provided by the program conform to 1969 American National Standards Institute of calibration. Infant screening is primarily performed through identification of high risk factors, medical history, behavioral observations, and assessment of developmental milestones.

2. The parent or guardian is notified by mail as to the child's failure to pass screening. They are urged either in person or by letter to seek follow-up testing depending upon the availability of the parent or guardian at the time of screening. A child who does not receive follow-up testing from private sector providers may be referred to a OPPHS communicative disorders clinic in the parish health unit. Follow-up testing is provided by masters-level professional audiologists and/or speech pathologists. These professionals are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and licensed by the state of Louisiana.

1. Follow-up communicative disorders clinics are provided in parish health units throughout the state except Plaquemines parish. Clinics are scheduled according to numbers of children needing follow-up services. Clinic services include speech, language, and hearing assessment (including middle ear function) utilizing nationally accepted test procedures. These tests are performed in accordance with standards for accreditation set by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and state licensing standards. The clinic responsibilities of audiologists and speech pathologists include interpreting test results to parents or guardians. These results support the presumptive diagnosis. Preventative and rehabilitative counseling is provided consistent with recommendations for referral and treatment. Staff functions in the communicative disorders clinic are:

2. Medical information is released to other providers in accordance with DHHR regulations. Repeat clinic invitations for missed clinic appointments are provided at a parent's request.

1. Voice clinics are conducted in parish health units depending upon availability of physician services. Clinic services may include:

2. Dependent upon medical findings appropriate referrals are made to private sector providers, to state supported hospitals for follow-up medical care, and/or certified speech therapists in the Department of Education for voice management and therapy. Procedures for obtaining access to voice clinic are identical to those provided for parish communicative disorders clinic.