Screenings (Height, Weight, BMI, Hearing)

Height & Weight

All students have their height and weight checked during the school year. This information is used to calculate the Body Mass Index (BMI) percentile.

Pennsylvania now has the 24th highest adult obesity rate in the nation, according to The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America released September 2016.

PA Department of Health requires School Nurses to share your child's BMI precentile with you as a goal to increase your awareness of your child's growth patterns.

Fact: Overweight children & adolescents have increased risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Underweight children are at risk for delayed brain growth, bone fracture and anemia.

Vision

All students have their vision checked during the school year. If a finding is outside of the normal range you will receive a recommendation to have your child assessed by an Eye Doctor (Ophthalmologist).

The purpose of a school vision screening program is to identify students with visual impairments.

"Vision problems affect 1 in 20 preschoolers and 1 in 4 school-age children" (Prevent Blindness America, 2000). Visual problems can and do affect the educational, social and emotional development of children. Early detection of vision problems assures the child of the opportunity of taking the best advantage of his/her educational opportunities.

Hearing

All 11th grade students have their hearing checked during the school year. If a finding is outside of the normal range you will receive a recommendation to have your child assessed by an audiologist.

The purpose of the school hearing screening and threshold testing program is to identify children with hearing impairments. Pennsylvania's Regulations requires pupils in Kindergarten; Grades 1, 2, 3, 7, and 11 have a hearing screening.

The Regulations of the Department of Health mandates Hearing Screening in the 11th grade because:

  • 4-5 years have passed since the last mandated hearing test
  • Identification of permanent hearing loss at that age may impact upon their ability to perform in a job and/or advanced training of the ability to be referred to another program for assistance before or after the age of 21 (e.g. office of Vocational Rehabilitation)
  • Adolescents have more exposure to noise levels
  • Hobbies and sports activity with noise exposure are more entrenched and frequent than ever before.