Free Health Screenings Help Children Succeed
By Nancy Farrand, R.N.
Good health and learning in the classroom go hand in hand. As parents, we want to give our children every opportunity to succeed in school. Sometimes, your child may not realize that his or her health has changed and is affecting school performance.
In most schools, some sorts of health screenings are performed or coordinated by school staff. Take advantage of these free screenings! Keep in mind that screenings are not intended to replace a doctor’s visit. The screenings only measure how well your student performs on that particular day.
There are a variety of ways to test vision. Generally, schools will screen a child’s far vision (seeing far away) and near vision (reading). Each eye may be tested separately. The Random Dot E (RDE) test might also be performed, which examines whether both eyes are working well together.
A referral for an eye doctor’s evaluation will be made if:
1. Far or near vision is worse than 20/30
2. A significant difference in vision between eyes is noted
3. Your child fails the RDE
New Missouri State recommendations are that a child should have a full eye exam from an eye doctor upon entering public school in kindergarten or first grade.
A pure tone test is typically used to screen hearing. A series of tones in each ear is given through headphones. If a child does not hear all of the tones, a referral is made.
It is becoming more common for schools to provide blood pressure checks. Appropriate ranges are based on the child’s height, age and gender.
Nearly every school will weigh and measure a child’s height. You may also see a Body Mass Index (BMI) number mentioned. This number reflects the relationship between height, weight, age and gender. BMI should be between the 5th and 84th percentiles. Regular exercise and good diet are keys to a healthy body. Encourage your child to make good food and activity choices every day. Parents are the best role models for children!
Dental screenings may also be done at school with the goal of identifying obvious problems in the mouth. If an area of concern is mentioned, please follow up with a dentist. Your child should brush his teeth twice daily. It is best to have a good cleaning by a dentist every six months.
As with any health screening, keep in mind that schools perform these screenings for the benefit of you and your child. Health problems that are addressed early can prevent more painful, complicated situations down the road.
Nancy Farrand, R.N., is a nurse for Score 1 for Health, which provides free, comprehensive health screenings to elementary-age children. Sponsored by Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences and the Deron Cherry Foundation, the program focuses its efforts on urban-core, underprivileged and low-income families.
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