Required Hearing Screening for Preschool (Nacogdoches, Blanco: school district, cost, military)

[Julie1226]

We are military. My 4 year old has been enrolled in a preschool due to start on the 25th. We were told that after her 4th birthday (which was in May), she would be required to have the Texas standard vision and hearing screening.

Texas Department of State Health Services, Vision and Hearing Screening Requirements

I inquired with our pediatrician at her 4 year check up, but since we were still in Delaware, and it wasn't required they, they advised waiting till we got here to Texas and see our newly assigned pediatrician here. We got the vision screening done at her 4 year check up, it is the hearing test that we are having such problems with.

Today we saw a pediatrician on base and they can't do a hearing screening, nor will they refer us to have one done unless there were any concerns with her hearing or speech (which there is none). We were told we were on our own to find a place and pay for it out of pocket. This was quite shocking to us considering any health related issues have always been taken care of without and hassle or cost.

I guess I am confused as to why we are having such a struggle. If it is a Texas requirement that all children have this screening, what do people do? The folks at the base acted like this was a very unusal request. Are hearing screenings normally done at civilian pediatricians' offices?

Is there a place here in SA that we can take her to get one done? Do other schools have hearing screenings available at the schools?

I am very confused about this. Perhaps there is something we are missing?

[HansClan]

Hi Julie1226,

As I recall, my childrens' (civilian) pediatrician did hearing tests as part of the 4-year old well-check. I may have had to ask specifically for it - can't recall as it was a few years ago. But I do know that we had it done through our pediatrician, and it was not considered an unusual request.

Sorry I can't point you in another direction, as I'm totally new to the area, as well. But I'm sure someone else will have some suggestions on where else you might go...

[sapphire]

It seems to me that the school district checks their hearing, but it's been a while since mine had it done.....I don't think they've ever been checked anywhere besides at school. They don't have any problems hearing me, that's for sure.

[sapphire]

Check out the 2008-2009 student handbook for NISD--it looks like they provide the screening, since it states that if you don't want it done you need to notify them. It's not a condition of enrollment, like immunizations are.

http://www.nisd.net/pdf/schools/hand...g_complete.pdf

pg 45

I am just using NISD as an example. Since it's a state requirement, all the ISD's should be the same.

[Julie1226]

Hmmm...this is for a preschool at a church. Which would be considered private, but they are really big about following the NISD schedule and such.

I have emailed the preschool's administrator. She told me that the rest of the 4 year old's get a hearing test at their 4 year old checkup. The military usually likes to follow the standards of the civilian world in respect to medical issues.

My problem is where would I get this done. I wouldn't have a clue of where to even start. Going to a pediatric audiologist seems crazy for a simple test on a child that definitely doesn't have any hearing or speech issues. Especially if we have to pay for it.

Since we are new to the area, we don't even know anyone we can ask. And the military pediatric office has been NO help.

[sapphire]

Try Texas MedClinic:

http://www.texasmedclinic.com/main/index.asp (broken link)

Also, I think I read on here somewhere that military dependents automatically qualify for Pre-K--what if you contacted the school district that she would attend and see if they can do the screening? Just a thought.

[Julie1226]

Great idea!!! Thanks Sapphire!

[NurseDana]

I used to be a school nurse and I screened all children in my school--all 850 of them! Free of charge. I only referred to an audiologist if one needed further evaluation. While I am very pro-screen, I would hope that they could at least refer you to a clinic. If we were in Nacogdoches I would do it for you! Best wishes!

[rockmommy]

I am going through the same thing. I found a place on Blanco Rd. Inside the loop. They do screenings for children on Fridays. A&B 342-2299 cost $36- Sounds like our kids will be going to the same school. UCUMP?

[boomgirl79]

Looks like this is an old post.