Entrant screening

Children are invited to have their hearing assessed as part of entrant screening within the first year of starting school, or on transferring in from outside Milton Keynes in Year 3 or below.

Children are not routinely tested if they are known to be under the care of the Audiology or ENT Departments at the hospital.

Parental/Teacher concerns

Where there are concerns the nursing team are able to check the hearing of school children.

Parental consent is required to carry out the test.

Method

• The test needs to be carried out in a quiet area.
• Children need to sit quietly and wear headphones
• Quiet sounds of varying frequencies are played into the headphones
• Children respond to hearing the sounds by placing a block / pebble into a pot.

Re-tests / Referrals

Children at school entry failing to detect a frequency, or having difficulty completing the test will be re-tested in 4-8 weeks.

At re-test, children failing to detect a frequency at the required level will be referred to the Children’s Hearing Assessment Unit at the Hospital.

Older children failing to detect the required frequencies may be referred directly to the hospital after only one test.

Parents will be informed of the outcome of hearing tests, and if appropriate, referral to the Hearing Assessment Unit.

Appointments at the Hearing Assessment Unit

The hearing assessment unit at the hospital will contact the parents of children who have been referred and invite them to make an appointment for a thorough assessment.