Adequate vision and hearing are paramount to educational performance. Impaired vision and/or hearing in children can seriously impede learning and contribute to the development of academic, emotional, and behavioral problems. Early discovery and treatment can prevent or alleviate many of these problems.
Hearing loss can happen anytime during life (from before birth to adulthood). There are many causes of hearing loss, including genetics, infections, noise, aging, trauma, and some medications. Hearing loss seriously affects a child’s ability to communicate because it interferes with normal language development and learning. It may affect a child’s ability to develop normal speech and isolate them from everyday surroundings, including parents, other family members, and playmates.
Vision loss can also happen anytime during life. Babies can be born unable to see, and vision loss can occur anytime during a person’s life. Vision loss can be caused by damage to the eye itself, the eye being misshaped, or even by a problem in the brain. In the United States, the most prevalent disabling childhood conditions are vision disorders, including amblyopia, strabismus, and significant refractive errors. Early detection increases the likelihood of effective treatment.
Children experiencing hearing or vision loss often are unaware they do not hear or see as they should. For this reason, it is up to the adults responsible for the child’s health care and educational process to identify those children with hearing or vision problems and ensure they receive the appropriate follow-up care.
Vision and Hearing Screening - To prevent the detrimental effects of hearing and vision loss in children, the Illinois Department of Public Health implemented the Illinois Child Vision and Hearing Test Act (410 ILCS 205/), which mandates vision and hearing screening programs for preschool and school-age children. Screenings are required at specific age and grade levels and must be done by technicians/nurses trained and certified by the Department. These screenings result in approximately one million children screened annually for both vision and hearing.
Vision and Hearing Screening Mandates - Hearing screening must be provided annually for preschool children three years of age or older in any public or private educational program or licensed childcare facility and for all school-age children in grades kindergarten, first, second, and third; are in special education class; have been referred by a teacher, or are transfer students. These screening services are provided in all public, private, and parochial schools. Instead of the screening services required, a completed and signed report form indicating the child had an ear examination by a physician and an audiological evaluation conducted by an audiologist within the previous 12 months is acceptable.
Vision screening must be provided annually for preschool children three years of age or older in any public or private educational program or licensed childcare facility and for school-age children in kindergarten, second, and eighth grades; are in special education class; have been referred by a teacher, or are transfer students. Such screening services are provided in all public, private, and parochial schools. Instead of the screening services required, a completed and signed report form indicating that an eye examination by a doctor specializing in diseases of the eye or a licensed optometrist has been administered within the previous 12 months is acceptable.
A student's parent or legal guardian may object to hearing or vision screening tests for their children on religious grounds. If a religious objection is made, a written and signed statement from the parent or legal guardian detailing such objections must be presented to the local school authority.
Screening Personnel - Mandated screening services must be provided by vision and hearing screening technicians trained and certified by the Department. Candidates must meet the prerequisite requirements to apply and be considered for training. To become certified, eligible candidates are required to attend and pass hearing and vision training courses conducted by the Department.
