The purpose of vision and hearing screening is to aid in the detection of school-age children who have or are at risk for developing vision/hearing disorders. These screenings are required by the Ohio Department of Health on an annual basis and will be administered during the 2017-2018 school year to the following students:

• All new students
• All students in grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7(vision only), and 9, 11 (hearing only)
• All students with undocumented follow-up from the 2016-17 school year

Why is it important to have your child’s vision and hearing screened at school?

• To identify if your child has vision problems or might be at risk for vision problems.
• Hearing is important for speech, language development, reading, and learning.
• A hearing screening can detect if your child needs further hearing testing.
• Even if your child has passed a hearing screening previously, their hearing can change.
• Hearing problems can be related to medical problems.

What tests are included in my child’s vision screen?

• Observation (all grades)
• Monocular distance acuity (all grades)
• Ocular muscle balance test (First grade)
• Stereopsis test (Kindergarten and First grade)
• Color deficit test (males only, in Kindergarten or First grade)

What tests are included in my child’s hearing screen?

• Audiometry: Screening of hearing acuity

How will I find out the results of my child’s vision and screening results?

• If your child passes the vision and hearing screening, you may not be contacted by the school nurse.
• If your child fails the screening, you will be informed of the test results and provided with referral paperwork.

What do I need to do if my child fails the vision or hearing screening?

• Vision and hearing screening provides a snapshot of how your child performs on the day the test was administered and is not a substitute for a complete eye exam by an optometrist/ophthalmologist or audiologist/ENT.
• Follow up should be arranged with an eye specialist (optometrist or ophthalmologist) or a hearing specialist (audiologist or ENT).
• Provide the specialist with the referral paperwork and return it to the school once it has been completed.

**If you should need help with resources for area specialists or financial assistance programs for eye/hearing exams, please contact your building’s nurse.**

If you should choose opt-out of any part of the school vision and hearing screening, a written request will need to be provided to the building’s nurse.