Captain HEAR’O is ‘hear’ to save some EAR! LAUNCH DAY!
5th Jan 2021
Hearing testing in children
5th Jul 2021
The what, how and the why of hearing screening at schools.
It has been become a standard for many schools that children must have a hearing and vision screening before they start Grade 1. We applaud the schools
that has made this a standard. Children often experience difficulty in school and only when they get to Grade 2 or 3 they are seen for an eye test or hearing test. Making it a standard will ensure that there is early identification and treatment of hearing loss and vision problems. Hearing screening can also be done at the audiologist’s practice.
Firstly, when your school requests our hearing screening services at the school, parents will receive a letter from school saying there will be hearing screening or that it is recommended that their child have a hearing screening for school.
Parents will receive a letter to sign to give consent that your child may be tested at school.
The day that the audiologist visits the school for hearing screening, the following tests will be done:
- First, an otoscopic examination will be done to check that there is not a wax build up and to check the eardrum.
- A middle ear test will be done to determine the functioning of the middle ear. The results can typically indicate if there is a build-up of fluid in the middle ear, abnormal pressure in the middle ear or a perforation of the eardrum.
Hearing screening will then be completed. Typically, 4 frequencies are tested, in order to determine whether further assessment is necessary. In older children, the child’s response to sound is required.- In very small children, the hearing screening can be conducted without the child’s response to the sound.
- A hearing screening takes about 15 – 20 minutes to be completed.
Hearing screening results are typically a pass or refer result. If your child perhaps didn’t pass the middle ear test, the audiologist will send a letter indicate what should be done. If your child didn’t pass the hearing screening part of the test, a full diagnostic test would require. If you receive a letter stating that you child passed, that is great news. But always monitor your child’s hearing that if there are any changes that they are tested again.
Early identification of hearing loss and appropriate intervention can minimize developmental delays and impact on social, emotional and educational development!
If you are unsure whether your child needs a test, contact us today!
