Vision and Hearing Screenings

Young children with vision problems do not know the way that they see the world is not the way they should be seeing it! Without early detection and treatment, children’s vision problems can lead to permanent vision loss and learning difficulties.

What will the vision screening consist of?

Vision screening will consist of one or more of the following:

• Distance visual acuity - ability to see objects far away
• Binocular vision - how well your child’s eyes work together
• Color vision - ability to see colors
• Near visual acuity - ability to see objects up close 

If your child does not pass the vision screening, a member of our school health nursing services team will send a referral for further evaluation by an eye care specialist. If you have any questions about the school vision screening program, please contact your child’s school clinic.

• Hearing is important for speech, language development, reading and learning.
• A hearing screening can detect if your student needs further hearing testing.
• Even if your student has passed a hearing screening previously, their hearing can change.
• Hearing problems can be related to medical problems.
• Hearing loss is invisible, and your student may appear to be not paying attention.

Hearing screening will consist of one or more of the following tests: 

• Tympanometry: Screening of middle ear function to determine the presence/absence of middle ear fluid and/or wax which could interfere with normal hearing.
• Audiometry: Screening of hearing acuity.
• Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE): An objective test that screens for an estimate of hearing sensitivity.

If your student passes the hearing screening, you may not be contacted. A hearing screening only provides a snapshot of how your student performs on the day the test was administered and is not a substitute for a complete hearing evaluation by an audiologist. If your student fails either part of the screening, a re-screen and/or referral will be made.