Annual Health Screenings

Vision/Hearing/

Acanthosis nigricans/Scoliosis (spinal) 

Screenings are usually conducted during the first half of the school year.  Vision is done first around the end of September/beginning of October.  The other three screenings are done in mid-November through before Christmas break.  Re-screenings, for those students who may not have passed the first round, are approximately three to four weeks after the first initial visit.  

These screenings are not a diagnoses.  If a child does not do well at the re-screening, a referral letter will be sent home to the parent.  The parent is to take the child to see a licensed physician for further evaluation.  Once evaluated, the child returns to school with the referral letter completed by the physician.  This information is placed into the child's medical file. 

Explanation of the screenings

Parents, please talk to your children about the screenings.  The students that are screened are as follows:  

1.  Vision and hearing screenings are for students who are 4 years old by Sept. 1, Kindergarteners, 1st, 3rd, 5th and  7th graders and any student in 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th grades that is new to the school.

2.  Acanthosis nigricans are only for students in 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th graders.

3.  Spinal screenings are only for girls who are in 5th and 7th grade and boys who are in 8th grade.

4.  Teacher(s)/parent (s) may also request their student to be screened even though it may not be their time.

5.  Dates will be sent through the school's app and/or by an email.

The vision screening is for distant acuity.  A student will be asked to sit or stand at 10 feet away from the Letter chart and will cover an eye.  The student will read out loud the letter while having that eye covered.  Students who require corrective lenses (glasses or contacts) will be asked to keep them on.  Pending on the line, a student can only miss one or two letters.  If more are missed, the student will be re-screened three to four weeks later.  If a student does not pass the screening, a referral letter will be sent home.  

The hearing screening will be a headphone placed snug over the ears.  This helps eliminate other sounds. A noise (i.e. beep, buzz, etc.) will sound.  When he/she hears that sound, he/she is to raise a hand and then place it back down.  The right ear will be done first and then the left.  Three tones per ear.  If your child misses a tone, he/she will be re-screened three to four weeks later.  If your child passed all tones, you will not receive anything meaning good news.

The Acanthosis nigrican screening is not a diagnosis but is a screening to check for a darkening of the skin.  The darkening of the skin can be found in many areas of the body; however, I only check the base of the back of the neck.  This abnormal skin color may be the cause of high levels of insulin in the blood.  But again, this is not a diagnosis, and if found, a referral would be given to your child to see his/her physician.  

The spinal screening is to detect any signs of abnormal curvature in the spine.  Detecting any abnormalities at an early stage can help with the correct treatment needed.  The students will be asked to remove their shirt.  Girls must wear a sports bra or halter top during their screening.  All students will be seen individually.  The screener (either another nurse or I will do the screening) will ask the student to stand and bend.  If any abnormalities are seen, the student will be re-screened in three weeks.  If that student continues to have a sign of an abnormality, a letter of referral will be sent home.

If you have any questions on either screening, please feel free to contact me.  Scheduled times will be posted on the school's app.