Hearing Tests for Kids

pinkclouds

I'm going through the paperwork for DD starting school this year. Among the various things are: dental check, eye test and hearing test dated within 6 months prior to starting school. Now the dentist and optician will be no problem. But who do I contact to arrange a hearing test? Is it the GP? (There is no problem with DD's teeth, eyesight or hearing, btw! But if this is what the forms state, then I guess it needs to be done.) The last hearing test she had was the one you get when you're a baby. That was ages ago and I'm sure it was an automatic routine appointment, arranged on our behalf, so I'm none the wiser.

pigpen

the school nurse goes into school the term they start and does them.

onlyroz

My son was given a hearing/sight test by the school nurse about 6 months ago (he's in year one). He failed the first hearing test and so was given another one, which he passed. I'm not sure if this is done in all schools, and I wasn't even aware that it was going to be done until I got given the report back by the school.

I'd suggest calling up the secretary and asking for more information.

pinkclouds

Maybe each school has a different policy? It says: "Has your child had his/her hearing tested during the last 6 months? Yes/No. Date of last hearing test. We recommend that all children are seen before entry into school." Ditto for dental and eye tests. It also says (elsewhere) for parents to organise appointments for the beginning of the holidays so any necessary treatments can be done before returning to school, so I think it is expected.

If no one knows, I guess I'll phone the GP or HV to see who does hearing tests. I just thought it would be as quick to ask here.

Btw, I presume the "year one" reference is primary one? My understanding of the English system is that my daughter is going into some "kindergarten" type year this year and that primary one is the following year.

building_with_lego

She'll be going into Reception this year, then will move up into Year 1 after that. Plenty of playing and getting them all used to institutional life

I don't know where in the country you are but I think it's fairly common to have the school nurse check hearing, along with height and weight, some time in YR. I've never heard of parents being encouraged to check the hearing of a child they have no concerns about, so I wonder if your form is asking for info about kids with known hearing problems.

pigpen

Most children have their hearing checked before a year old.. if you have no concerns then it doesn't need doing.. the biscuit wrapper test is best of all.. can you open a packet of biscuits within a half mile radius of her and does she come running?

Mine can hear the thought of a biscuit

kingfisherblue

My youngest had a hearing test after the GP referred him - my older son has Down's syndrome and has some congenital hearing loss, so I think the GP was just playing safe. He had hearing tests at about ages three and seven. He passed both, but now, at 11 years old, is waiting for another test. I have requested this through the school nurse, as he is having difficulty hearing.

Although many children seem to hear everything (including biscuit wrappers!), there is still a possibility of mild hearing loss. A hearing test will check different frequencies. Also, both ears will be tested. It is possible that hearing loss is not recognised because a child gets used to listening with one ear. Children's hearing tests are more like a play session - my older son loves putting little men into a boat each time he hears a sound

My older son, whose hearing loss is now progressive, still hears sweet wrappers and things that I don't want him to hear! He has high frequency hearing loss on both sides, as well as low frequency hearing loss on the left. Originally he had high frequency hearing loss on the left side only, but his hearing is worsening. Having said that, it isn't too bad yet.

I think a hearing check for all children is a good idea before they start school. If there is a problem, it means that there is a chance to have it corrected (or at least monitored), and also that the teachers can be aware and ensure that the child doesn't lag behind because they cannot hear properly.

onlyroz

I think Boots opticians can do hearing tests.

Janepig

DS is 5 and has just had his check up with the school nurse which has been standard practice at that age since I was that age (a lonnnggg time ago!). Hearing test where they listen to a bleep through headphones and move blocks from one box to another. Height, weight, eyesight, and just a general chat with the school nurse if you have any concerns.

Jxx

pinkclouds

building_with_lego wrote: »

I don't know where in the country you are but I think it's fairly common to have the school nurse check hearing, along with height and weight, some time in YR. I've never heard of parents being encouraged to check the hearing of a child they have no concerns about, so I wonder if your form is asking for info about kids with known hearing problems.

We're in England now but we're from Scotland. Back home you start school at 4 years old, straight into primary one. Primary school is primary one through seven and secondary school is first year (or first form) through sixth year (or sixth form), so it's a split of 7 years primary and up to 6 years secondary (many people do 5 years and a handful do just 4 years). And, of course, school was some time ago for me! I find it a trifle annoying and disconcerting that the school system is now an alien thing to me despite still being within the UK. If I was back home and someone said their kid was in year one, I'd probably assume they meant first year and that the kid was 11 or 12 years old.

I'm also finding the volume of paperwork ridiculous. Apparently, you need to give permission for everything these days. My daughter's nursery school has a stack of forms for everything from sun cream to sunshine (they don't go on walks unless you give permission). I seem to recall there's even a form asking if it's okay to acknowledge birthdays, if they fall on a school day! So I'm dismayed that going up to primary school involves an even greater stash of forms. What's wrong with just asking if there is anything wrong instead of asking for everything that's right? Checklist of childhood illnesses including year of occurrence. List all vaccination dates. (I'll just copy that from the red book.) "Cultural" needs. And so on. I understand the need to be very clear on allergies and I suppose I don't mind signing yet another permission slip for first aid to be given. It's just that, on my sillier and more paranoid days, I do sometimes wonder if they refuse to dole out tissue paper if your parents forgot to sign a form or if they'd call the parents before they call an ambulance if anything tragic happened.

*sigh* I suppose I'm just being irritated for silly reasons. I know we live in a very litigious society these days and everyone has to cover their backs. And it's not the school's fault that I wish it was actually Scottish and more familiar to me.

pinkclouds

pigpen wrote: »

Most children have their hearing checked before a year old.. if you have no concerns then it doesn't need doing.. the biscuit wrapper test is best of all.. can you open a packet of biscuits within a half mile radius of her and does she come running?

Mine can hear the thought of a biscuit

Oh, and I definitely don't have any concerns about her hearing. (Although both my kids are "selectively deaf", shall we say? They only hear what they want to hear!) If it is too difficult to arrange a hearing test, then I guess I'll just tell the school I have no concerns and see if they make an issue of it. But I'm going to try and sort something out, if I can - just so I've done everything "by the book". It's a shame for eldest kids (of which I am one myself) that they always get the brunt of parental anxieties and inexperience. I know I won't be half as bothered for my younger child. I wish I could be more relaxed for my elder child but... that's just the way it goes.