childrens sight tests hearing too?

[mumsastudent]

I think it would be a good idea that proper both sight & hearing tests should be done be before starting school. I would like to see parents getting official reminders to do this - sight test are free from opticians but I am not sure about hearing or where you could go to have a accurate hearing check to test both ears individually.

Brilliant idea. Where would the money come from?

The entitlement to free annual sight tests already exists, so shouid not need additional funding, other than the awareness campaign.

I'm not sure about hearing. Is there a routine screening, or is it something that you need to raise with GP if you have concerns?

Eye test are free and so are glasses - pity everyone gets the dentist but not the opticians!

Hearing is more medical but can be done on request

my feeling is that vision & hearing issues need to be established before education really starts - if a child gets behind at school because of these issues there is a cost both financially for the school & educationally & socially for the children concerned - as stated this news article is agood step forward but perhaps parents could be reminded on a childs entry to school that they can get free eye tests & how important they are ditto dentists! & perhaps explaining if they are concerned about achild hearing they should get it checked & how they do this. What was stated on the tv was that not all councils do health checks in schools - which is a concern

Here they do hearing and eye sight tests in Reception.