Before screening
A school-age screening programme involves planning at every stage.
Instruction
In this topic you will learn about the actions involved in setting up a screening programme.
Setting up the screening programme
Before a screening programme can be implemented, it is necessary to:
- Get approvals from the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Education (MoE)
- Identify screening locations with capacity to conduct a screening programme, including staff and suitable environment
- Identify referral pathways and processes for local eye and ear care services
- Identify and train screeners
- Source equipment.
Question
Why is it important to develop a relationship with local eye and ear care personnel who will be receiving your referrals?
Select all that apply.
If you selected a, b and c you are correct!
Through the screening process you will identify children who need referral to eye care personnel after the screening day.
d is incorrect.
Local eye and ear care personnel can be available to advise screeners remotely or in-person on the screening day. They will not carry out the screening.
Coordinating the screening
To coordinate the screening the school head (or other person of responsibility) and the screener should meet to:
- Identify other personnel to assist with screening including:
- School screening coordinator
- Screening assistants
- Identify and prepare the screening space
- Prepare paperwork
- Organize the children.
Meet Ayana and Jabari
Ayana works for a local organization as a sensory screener. Ayana meets with the head of the school taking part in a local sensory screening programme.
The head of school appoints Jabari as the screening coordinator.
Together, Ayana and Jabari:
- Get permission to use two rooms on the screening day including the main hall and a classroom
- Print out the forms and checklists
- Identify teachers and parents to help on screening days
- Discuss how to prepare and organize the children for screening.
Question
What do you think are important considerations when choosing a space for vision and hearing screening?
1. Level of background noise
Correct!
Background noise makes it harder for a child to hear the test sounds in hearing screening. It is important to find a space without background noise to get accurate results.
2. Well-lit room
Correct!
To see the vision charts clearly, it is important to have a well-lit room.
3. Size of room
Correct!
For vision screening there must be space to position the chair 3 metres away from the vision chart.
4. Hand washing facilities
Correct!
It is important for the screener to wash their hands before and after an eye or ear health screen to avoid risk of infection.
5. Space for all the children
Incorrect.
To get accurate results children are screened one by one. Only one child is in the room at a time.
Inclusion considerations
All children should have access to screening. This includes children with known vision and hearing problems and those with physical and learning needs.
Discuss with the school screening coordinator how to make screening possible for all children with additional needs and plan for this.
Consider the location of the screening space and the need for an adult to accompany the child.
Meet Aleisha
Aleisha cannot climb stairs. Her school organized for the sensory screening to take place on the ground floor of the building so that she could participate.
Meet Eka
Eka has learning difficulties. She was unable to participate in her school sensory screening because she finds it hard to understand and follow instructions. She was referred to eye and ear care personnel who have experience of screening children with these types of difficulties.
Consent
Before carrying out sensory screening, it is essential to obtain consent for each child from an authorized person. This might be parents/caregivers or the head of the school.
To ask for consent from parents/caregivers, the school can use the Consent form.
This includes:
- Basic information about the screening programme and what it involves
- Simple questions for parents/caregivers that provide useful information for the screening.
Local guidance should be followed when seeking consent from families who cannot read or provide a written signature.
Instruction
If you haven’t already, print the Consent form. You can also find the form in the Vision and hearing screening for school-age children implementation handbook.
Once consent is received it is noted in the school’s sensory screening record system.
If consent was not given, the school screening coordinator should speak to parents/caregivers to try and find out the reason.
The parents may need more information or reassurance.
Tip
Parents/caregivers should be allowed to attend the screening with their child, if this is possible.
When preparing for the screening, check if there are any concession schemes or programs available in your area which might make services more affordable or even free for any children requiring referral.
Discussion
What concerns might parents/caregivers have about their child participating in sensory screening?
- Fear of negative attitudes from others if a problem is identified
- Fear of the costs of accessing services if their child is referred
- Concern about their ability to take time off work to take their child to a service if they are referred.
How would you reassure parents and encourage them to allow their children to participate in screening?
- Reassure that we understand your concern about how others might react, but vision and hearing problems are very common, and getting help is nothing to be ashamed of
- Explain that identifying vision and hearing problems early is one of the best ways to support your child’s learning, confidence, and overall well-being
- Advise parents if there are any services in the area offering more affordable services
- Check whether services offer evening appointments or weekend appointments.