It’s time for your little one to head back to the classroom! In addition to information about their classes, your child’s school may have sent out a notice about hearing screenings. Let’s look at why schools offer screenings, what the screenings entail and what to do if your child doesn’t pass theirs.
Why Early Childhood Hearing Screenings Matter
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 95.1 million children aged 5-19 years live with hearing loss worldwide.1 Children rely on their hearing to build communication skills, participate in school and build social relationships.
Hearing loss doesn’t mean your child won’t be able to do those things, but early detection and management with hearing aids will set them up for success from the classroom to the Crestview Park playground.
In an effort to ensure no child goes without the care they need, many school districts offer in-school hearing screenings.
How Do Hearing Screenings Work?
During a hearing screening, your child will sit in a quiet room, like the nurse’s office or the auditorium, and wear headphones. The screening will follow three simple steps:
- The screening administrator will play a series of beeps at different volumes and frequencies
- Your child will raise their hand or press a button when they hear the beep
- The administrator will record the results as pass/fail
If your child doesn’t pass the screening, their administrator will recommend scheduling a follow-up visit with a hearing specialist, such as those at Premier Medical Group!
Hearing Screening Follow-Ups
If your child fails their screening, we’ll recommend a hearing test. Remember that a failed hearing screening doesn’t necessarily mean that your child has permanent hearing loss. In some cases, they’ll only have a temporary blockage, like from earwax buildup, a cold or an ear infection. If their blockage is temporary, their hearing will return to normal as soon as we treat the underlying condition or it resolves on its own.
If a test reveals permanent hearing loss, however, we’ll walk you through treatment options, such as hearing aids and auditory counseling, to help your child succeed at every stage of life.
Call Premier Medical Group today to schedule a hearing test for your little one.
Sources:
1 World Health Organization. (2025, February 27). Deafness and hearing loss. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss