The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Spinal Screening Program was established by the Texas Legislature to detect abnormal spinal curvature in students. The program is required to adopt rules as mandated by the statute.
School-based spinal screening helps to identify adolescents with abnormal spinal curves and refer them for appropriate follow-up by their primary care physician. Screening can detect scoliosis at an early stage, when the curve is mild and may go unnoticed. Early detection is key to controlling spinal deformities.
Announcements
Vision, Hearing and Spinal Screening Updates
The
program is currently determining if screening rules will be in effect this year
due to the extra challenges to schools posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We
will notify stakeholders as soon as a decision is reached. In the
meantime, for schools who are screening students, please refer to this best practices document for guidance on safely
screening children this school year.
The
Vision, Hearing and Spinal Screening Program (VHSS) will offer virtual Vision
and Hearing Basic workshops beginning Sept 1, 2020 for individuals who do not
have a current vision and hearing certification. Please contact the
Regional Coordinator for your area for more information and to sign up for
training. Regional Coordinator contact information can be found on our website:
https://dshs.texas.gov/vhs/regions.shtm
Please
email vhssprogram@dshs.texas.gov if you have any
questions.
Compliance
with Texas Health and Safety Code requirements for vision, hearing, and spinal
screenings is required for the 2020-2021 school year.
Schools
should follow these guidelines for students to obtain vision,
hearing
and spinal
screenings that are receiving in person or online instructions.
- Send
a letter to parents notifying them in advance that screenings will be
conducted on designated dates
- Request
parent to please bring student receiving online instructions to the school
so screenings may be performed in accordance with the statutes
- In lieu of the
screening(s) provided by the school:
- parents or guardians may provide screening record signed by a licensed professional
- parents or guardians may provide signed statement that the vision, hearing or spinal screening conflicts with the tenets and practices of a church or religious denomination of which the affiant is an adherent or member
Vision, Hearing and Spinal Screening and Reporting Rules are Waived for 2019-2020 School Year. Optional reporting window for screenings already conducted extended to July 31.
- Due to COVID-19 and school closures, in accordance with section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code, the Office of the Governor grants the Department of State Health Services’ request to suspend HSC section 37.001(b), 25 TAC 37.144(c)(1), and 25 TAC 37.145(b)(5) for spinal screening and reporting, and HSC sections 36.004(a), 36.006(d), and 25 TAC 37.23(a), 25 TAC 37.24(a), and 25 TAC 37.26(b)(6) for hearing and vision screening and reporting. This suspension is in effect for the 2019-2020 school year.
- Schools may report screening results of previously performed screenings by July 31st for the 2019-2020 school year if they elect to do so. Results can be submitted to DSHS online at the Child Health Reporting System (CHRS). If you have any questions, please email VHSSprogram@dshs.texas.gov.
Vision, Hearing and Spinal Screening Reporting Period Begins January 15
The reporting period for vision, hearing and spinal screening (VHSS) begins on January 15, 2020. 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, 2020. After June 30, the reporting system shuts down and late reporting cannot be submitted.
Updated Spinal Screening Policy Effective 2018-2019 School Year
Due to feedback from stakeholders, the Spinal Screening Policy has been reviewed and updated regarding ages and grades to be screened for the 2018-2019 school year. In September 2015, the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) published a joint position statement paper with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America (POSNA), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and have the following recommendation: “AAOS, SRS, POSNA, and AAP believe that screening examinations for spine deformity should be part of the medical home preventative services visit for females at age 10 and 12 years, and males once at age 13 or 14 years.”
Grade-based screening is considered an acceptable alternative to age-based screening in a school setting. The grades, however, must align with the professionally recommended ages so that most children are screened at the appropriate age, or as close to it as reasonably possible.
In compliance with Health and Safety Code, Chapter 37, all children shall undergo screening for abnormal spinal curvature in accordance with the following schedule:
- Girls will be screened two times, once at age 10 (or fall semester of grade 5) and again at age 12 (or fall semester of grade 7).
- Boys will be screened one time at age 13 or 14 (or fall semester of grade 8).
It is incumbent on schools to identify outliers (i.e., children promoted to higher grades or held back) and ensure their screenings align with appropriate ages rather than grades.
Updated Program Guidelines and Spinal Screening Report (M-51)
The Spinal Screening Program Guidelines is the teaching manual for DSHS-approved spinal screening certification workshops. It has been updated to reflect the changes effective the 2018-2019 school year.
School districts, private school systems, and charter schools use Form M-51 to report cumulative totals of the spinal screenings conducted at each campus.
Contact Us
Texas Department of State Health Services
Spinal Screening Program - Mail Code 1818
PO Box 149347 | Austin, Texas 78714-9347
1100 West 49th Street | Austin, Texas 78756-3199
Phone: 512-776-7420 | Toll Free 1-800-252-8023, extension 7420
Fax: 512-776-7256
Email: vhssprogram@dshs.texas.gov