Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) Eligibility in Oregon
Students are eligible for special education via Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) when their hearing levels or auditory functioning make it difficult to access spoken language through listening alone, even when using hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other technology. Columbia Regional Inclusive Services partners with EI/ECSE programs and school districts to help evaluate students and determine DHH eligibility.
Audiological Documentation
OAR 581-015-2150 requires an audiological evaluation from a licensed audiologist for all DHH eligibilities. How this works depends on age:
- Birth–5: Columbia Regional Inclusive Services provides audiological evaluations at no cost when a child has documentation of two failed hearing screenings or other concerns about hearing levels.
- School-age (K–21): Families obtain the audiological evaluation through their health care provider or another community audiologist. Districts then provide CRIS with the audiogram or report; schools do not conduct audiological testing.
A child may qualify when the audiologist documents one of the following:
- Hearing levels of 25 dBHL or greater at two or more consecutive frequencies (500–8000 Hz) in at least one ear
- Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD)
- Aural microtia/atresia
These conditions may affect access to spoken language even when thresholds are atypical or difficult to measure.
Team Determinations
Eligibility also requires determining that the child’s hearing levels or auditory functioning affect developmental progress (ages 3–5) or educational performance (ages 5–21). For infants and toddlers, the auditory difference must be affecting, or expected to affect, developmental pathways.
The team must document that the child needs specialized instruction, which may involve communication access supports, language development, listening/spoken language services, visual communication supports, or self-advocacy skill development.
The team must also determine that the concerns are not due to a lack of appropriate reading instruction, a lack of appropriate math instruction, or limited English proficiency.
Components of a DHH Evaluation
Teams review existing information such as parent input, medical history, prior evaluations, and educational records. Additional developmental or educational assessments may be used to understand how the child accesses communication, learning, and participation across settings.
Summary
A child is eligible under DHH when an audiologist’s documentation meets Oregon’s criteria, their auditory profile affects learning or development, they require specialized instruction, and the concerns are not due to limited instruction or language factors. These determinations guide access to special education as well as services from Columbia Regional Inclusive Services.
