Anne Arundel County Schools in Maryland are implementing mandatory vision and hearing screenings for students. The county’s Department of Health is collaborating with school nurses and vision and hearing technicians to conduct these screenings.
The purpose of the vision screening is to identify any potential vision problems in children. It is a quick examination that helps experts determine if a child requires further vision evaluation. The hearing screening, on the other hand, aims to identify any hearing difficulties a student may have.
These yearly screenings will be conducted for children enrolled in preschool, kindergarten, first grade, and eighth grade, according to the Anne Arundel County Department of Health. In addition, students new to the county’s schools and special education students receiving speech therapy may also be recommended for a vision and hearing screening.
To ensure that all eligible children are screened, the vision and hearing technicians will also provide screenings to MSDE-approved private schools and special education programs in the area.
It is advised that children who wear glasses bring their glasses to school on the day of the screening.
The schedule for the technicians’ visits to the county’s schools is as follows:
[Schedule]
This initiative aims to prioritize the health and well-being of students by identifying any potential vision or hearing problems. By conducting these screenings regularly, any issues can be addressed promptly, ensuring that students have the necessary support to excel academically and socially.
The implementation of mandatory vision and hearing screenings is expected to contribute to the overall health and educational experience of students in Anne Arundel County Schools.
