Sometimes school personnel and parents are unaware of what hearing and vision services are being provided to preschool and school-age children.  The following information below is being provided to help better understand what we do and why we do it.

Michigan's Public Health Code (Act 368 of 1978) requires local health departments, with the assistance of the State, to conduct free and periodic hearing and vision screening services to preschool and school-age children.

HEARING

Did you know that:

 Michigan law REQUIRES preschool children be screened for hearing at least once during the ages 3 - 5, and that school-age children be screened in Grades K, 2 and 4.

 Hearing technicians participate in the Technician Observation Program (TOP) which is designed to promote hearing screening quality assurance through technician observation (once every three years) and assessment.

 Each child in select grades receives an “initial” screening annually.

 Ninety-percent of children who receive initial screening are found to have normal hearing . . . which is great!  The other 10% will receive a follow-up screening or an audiogram (a graphic display of a child's hearing levels).

 In 2004/2005, more than 521,500 preschool and school-age children were screened for hearing problems, and over 23,200 referrals were made to medical doctors.

 Fifty-percent of those children receiving threshold testing will be found to need medical attention for their suspected hearing loss.

 Each child identified as having middle ear pathology or other hearing problems will receive continued services on an annual basis until two normal audiograms are obtained.

 Each child has the opportunity to be seen by a medical ear specialist (otolaryngologist) and an audiologist, at no cost to families where health department Otology Clinics are held.

 Although asthma is the leading chronic illness among American children, otitis media accounts for more visits to pediatricians than any other illness.  Hearing and vision technicians know this and are also aware that for every child who needs antibiotics to treat otitis media, six can recover without them!

VISION

Did you know that:

 Michigan law REQUIRES preschool children be screened at least once during the ages 3 - 5, that all new-entrant kindergarten children have a vision screen, and that the vision screening of school-age children be conducted in Grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, or grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and in conjunction with driver training.

 The goal of Michigan's screening program, for preschool and school-age children, is to screen and detect vision problems, and to assure referral and follow-up to eye doctors.  Children are screened for clearness of vision, eye muscle balance, and for symptoms of eyesight problems.

 Vision technicians participate in the Technician Assessment Program (TAP) which is designed to promote vision screening quality assurance through technician observation (once every three years) and assessment.

 Impaired vision is one of the most common of health problems affecting children, and it is estimated that between 20-25% of children in Michigan have a visual defect.

 Amblyopia (lazy eye), which is the leading cause of partial permanent vision loss in America and affects approximately 2 or 3 out of 100 children, can be prevented if treated early.  Crossed eyes or unequal vision between the two eyes are the most common causes.  Vision technicians are trained to screen children for amblyopia.

 In 2004/2005, more than 749,900 preschool and school-age children were screened for visual problems, and over 65,900 referrals were made to eye doctors.

 Visual Acuity, or clearness of vision, has proved to be the best single measure for determining the possible present of a visual problem.  Vision technicians are able to administer Visual Acuity/2-line Difference Tests to preschool and school-age children.

HEARING & VISION

Did you know that:

 Hearing technicians (and vision technicians, too!) receive more training than most other technical people doing this kind of work.

 The hearing and vision screening programs, administered by the Michigan Department of Community Health and implemented by 45 statewide county health departments, have been in place for more than a half century!

 Hearing and vision screening programs are required state services providing public health prevention, promotion, and protection, partially funded through the Local Public Health Operations grant from the Michigan Department of Community Health.

 The Michigan hearing and vision screening programs have long been recognized as exemplary models for other states to emulate.  Both programs are carefully standardized, so that each child screened, regardless of where they reside, receives consistent screening, referral, and follow-up services.

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