Hyperacusis Hearing Processing Disorder and OUSD Assessments
Hello, My daughter is going to be entering OUSD for kindergarten. We think she has an issue with sensory processing particularly sound (maybe hyperacusis and phonophobia) as well as general anxiety. We are going to be taking her to an audiologist to determine hearing and tolerance levels soon, but I don't really know where to go from there. How do I start the process of letting the school know that she might need extra consideration? Is there some specific department and phone number I should call? From what I can gather, any developmental pediatrician, OT, or other is going to cost a bunch. Should I see if OUSD will provide assessments or do you think it is worth it to go through an independent resource? Would OUSD be wiling to assess for hearing processing issues?
Parent Replies
OUSD is required to assess in any and all areas of suspected disability. Don't let them tell you otherwise. And if you aren't satisfied with their assessment, you are entitled to an independent assessment that OUSD should pay for if theirs isn't sufficient to address your child's disability. For the independent, they will give you a list of their OTs but you can choose your own OT, which I would recommend. If you have not already put in writing your request for evaluation for special education services, you should do it asap because there are timelines and the sooner the better. They will take as much time as they can, usually. A great source for parent education on how to do all this is DREDF @ dredf.org They have sample letters you can use. Best of luck and if you need any guidance feel free to contact me, I have a child with disabilities in OUSD and I believe parents shouldn't have to keep reinventing the wheel so if I can help, I will.
I don't know the specifics about this particular condition but I would contact OUSD right away and request an assessment for an IEP for your daughter. The person to contact before your child is actually an OUSD student is Silvia Nuno at Burbank Preschool in Oakland (510) 729-7771. She will have you write a letter stating your concerns and provide proof of residency and then they are actually required by law to do an initial intake within 15 days and then an assessment within 60 days. There's also a Nolo Press book about getting an IEP for your child in California if you want to know more about your rights. Good luck!