Fulfilling the Vision and Hearing Screening Mandate

Jen Dakers, Audiologist, Hearing Program Consultant for MDCH

Several years ago, Early On identified hearing and vision as two components of the multidisciplinary evaluation that is difficult to complete within the 45-day period as mandated in part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

"The delayed screenings meant that infants and toddlers were not getting the help they needed quickly," recalled Jennifer Dakers, Hearing Program Consultant for the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH). "The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) sought to change this by setting aside appropriated funds to establish a screening protocol utilizing objective hearing and vision screening measures for Early On." MDE enlisted the help of the MDCH Hearing and Vision screening programs to provide training and technical assistance.

The Hearing and Vision consultants worked closely with School Health Corporation to assess and select the products that would best meet the needs of Early On.

"Looking back, the whole process-from identifying the equipment to creating a training plan and then training the individuals-took more than a year." But once completed, Early On staff was prepared to provide objective hearing and vision screening to infants and toddlers during their multidisciplinary evaluation to determine eligibility.

Today, new vision and hearing equipment has been added to their armamentarium and Early On continues to screen newly referred infants and toddlers. Because of overlap in Early On and Early Head Start programs, several Michigan Head Starts also benefited from the established vision and hearing screening programs.

Best Practice Advice

Based on this experience, Ms. Dakers identified three issues that early childhood centers should consider when establishing their own vision and hearing screening program:

1. Follow through on referrals. Sometimes, young children who fail the initial screening may pass the second time. This is common especially in children with middle ear effusion. Initiating a follow-up screening 2-4 weeks later will determine whether or not the child needs to see a specialist. If a specialist is needed, the referral should occur in a timely manner. The quicker a diagnosis is obtained, the earlier the child can receive appropriate intervention.

2. Train Small Groups. Ms. Dakers advises that instead of training all personnel within the system, it is more prudent to identify specific individuals to handle the screenings for several centers. "Someone who screens only once or twice a year may not be as effective as a health services manager or experienced volunteer who screens many children enrolled in the program," Ms. Dakers noted. "Consistent use of the devices leads to consistent and accurate results." Additionally, it is best to provide a practicum experience using infants and toddlers rather than practicing on older children or adults. "This type of hands-on learning gives the screeners the opportunity to work through the realistic challenges of screening the 0-3 age group."

3. Budget for Equipment Maintenance. Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) equipment and enhanced vision systems, such as the SureSight, are effective, practical, and provide highly accurate results. "These technologies require disposable supplies, annual maintenance and calibration to retain peak performance," noted Ms. Dakers. The cost for supplies and maintenance should be incorporated into the annual budget to ensure that resources have been set aside.

For vison screening products, shop our Vision Screening category.

For hearing screening products, shop our Hearing Screening category.