After the Commission votes on your application, your staff member will send you a letter setting forth the Commission's decision about your application. This letter will be a Status Update Letter, a Denial, or a Certificate of Appropriateness.

Petitioners or others testify about the behavior that they have observed. The patient may testify and call witnesses. An attorney known as the County Mental Health Solicitor represents the treatment facility. The psychiatrist reports on the individual's mental illness. The Mental Heath Review Officer decides if continuing treatment is necessary.

A piece of equipment called Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) will be used to perform the screen.  A screener will come to your bedside, or your infant will be brought to a quieter room.  You are welcome to stay with your baby throughout the screen. Once your baby is settled, or preferably asleep, the screener will attach three soft sticky pads to your child's forehead. The screener will also put earmuffs or earplugs to your baby's ears.

The hearing is a chance for the student appeals panel, which is made up of three members (the Chair, an academic and normally a student representative), to ask any questions or to clarify any points in your submission. The Panel can also direct questions to the Faculty representative. Usually no new evidence is allowed to be given at the hearing. You are allowed to bring along a support person, including a family member, friend or a student representative member.

If your child is identified with a hearing impairment you will be referred to the appropriate services for advice and support.  It is really important that children receive assistance as early as possible in order to give them the best possible chance of reaching their full potential in language, learning and social development.

After you request a hearing, you will receive a Notice of Hearing and Procedural Order that informs you of the scheduled date, time and place of the hearing, and the name of the hearing officer who will hear your case. It also explains some of the procedures associated with the hearing process.

All infants who do not pass the hearing screening should be referred for further testing to rule out or confirm a hearing loss. All infants with confirmed hearing loss should be referred for a comprehensive medical evaluation to assess the causes and look for potential or related disabilities. Depending on the results of the audiological and medical examinations, infants may be referred to an intervention program.

After you ask for a state hearing, ODHS will send you a notice giving the date, time and place of the hearing. The hearing is usually held at the local county agency. If you can't go to the agency, the hearing can be held somewhere else, possibly in your home. Your caseworker will explain the agency's action. You can explain why you don't agree. The hearing officer will listen to both sides and may ask questions to bring out all the facts. The hearing will be tape recorded.

the dispositional hearing, information is presented to the court to help the judge decide whether the child is a person in need of supervision - a PINS. Witnesses with information about the child testify and present evidence. If the judge decides that the child does not need supervision or treatment, the judge may dismiss the case.