Living History Worldwide

Every year, when school is about to start after a summer of fun, kids all over the nation go into their perdiatrician’s offices to get physicals and have hearing and vision testing done. It is important for parents around the United States to partake in these proactive testing procedures. School staff recommend this testing be done for a number of reasons.

The use of smartphones and tablets mean that kids spend more time looking at screens than ever before. When people use these devices, it has an impact on the rate at which they blink their eyes. This can also impact their eyes’ ability to form tears and can lead to a condition called “dry eye.” The Review of Optometry has reported this can be an issue even for people whose eyes are otherwise healthy.

This is not the only problem looking at screens all day can cause in children and adults. The American Optometric Association (AOA) has reported that children who use devices at home and at home can do other damage to their eyes. School staffing experts report seeing these issues at school. It is not enough for kids to be seen by trained specialists at school. They need more comprehensive testig that can only be completed by a health care professional.

It is important to remember that about one-quarter of all kids have a problem with their vision. Despite this, nearly 80% do not get into a see an eye health care provider every year. A full 35% pf all kids across the nation have never been to see an eye doctor. Letting school staff do eye exams does not provide enough information on the state of a child’s eye health.

It is equally important for children to have hearing screenings. Hearings issues can be very detrimental and often go unnoticed. When detected early, a lot can be done to help improve their hearing and help to prevent any issues with the child’s ability to learn. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that early intervention for children who have problems with their hearing. Working with school staff, you can device plans to develop the right educational program for children who suffer from hearing loss.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommendations for how often a child should be screened for hearing loss. They recommend that parents take their kids in for hearing testing at certain times in their lives. They say that kids should receive this kind of testing:

• When kids first enter school.
• When the children reach the age of six, eight, and ten.
• During middle or junior high school, students should receive a minimum of one heaaring test.
• During high school, they need a minimum of one more hearing test.
• There are times when kids need to receive additional hearing testing. If school staff notice any problems with language, speech, or other kinds of developmental issues or delays. Keep in mind the school staff places student needs high on their list of priorities.

Advancements in technology are issues for kids’ hearing as well as their vision. Today, nearly 20% of all American teens are reported to suffer from some kind of hearing loss. That represents a jump of about 30% from what was seen in the 1980s and 1990s, according to the American Osteopathic Association. A lot of experts in hearing attribute this to the increase in the usage of earbuds and headphones. Hearing loss experts note that when people listen to earbuds or headphones for a long time at a high volume, the result is hearing loss.

It is important for people of all ages to listen to their music, podcasts, and anything else at a more reasonable volume. It can be hard to detect hearing loss without help from a professional. If you do think your child is starting to have issues with their hearing, the best thing you can do is bring them into a professional for hearing testing.

When you are getting your child ready to go back to school, adding a stop to have their hearing and vision tested can make life a lot easier for them, you and the school staff who teach them.