It’s difficult for children to succeed in school if they can’t hear the teacher’s instructions or see what is posted on the bulletin board. That’s why it’s important for parents to make sure their young students get a vision and hearing test as early as possible during the new school year.

“Monitoring your child’s ability to see is an important part of ensuring their overall health,” said Dr. Elizabeth Smith, a pediatrician with Floyd Pediatrics.

More than one in 20 preschoolers have a vision problem that can lead to vision loss if not treated. One in four school-aged children has some type of vision problem. Without proper screening, vision problems may go unnoticed.

Vision screening should start by four years of age. A mature 3-year-old can also be tested using a modified age appropriate vision screening.

“It is recommended that children 5 years and older have an annual visual screening by their doctor and eye examinations as necessary,” Dr. Smith said.

Specific tests and charts may be used to measure both near and distant vision. For preschoolers, these charts may consist of pictures or stories instead of letters of the alphabet.

Nearly one out of five children ages 12 to 19 may have a hearing problem. The all too common practice of listening to loud music with headphones or earbuds can gradually affect hearing. Other activities such as using a lawn mower, playing in band at school or talking on a cell phone could damage hearing, too.

“It can sometimes be hard to determine if your child has hearing loss,” Dr. Smith said. “Some possible signs include turning up the volume on the television too loud or not following directions.”

A hearing screening for a children 3 years and older involves a test that uses a machine that produces sounds at different volumes and pitches in your child’s ears. The child usually wears some type of earphones. The child is simply asked to respond in some way when the tone is heard in the earphone.

For vision and hearing screenings, contact your pediatrician.

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