School Health

Hearing Screening

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends that all children receive a hearing screening annually from kindergarten through third grade and in grades five, eight, and eleven. 

Hearing screening should be performed for students who are new, receive special education, or have the following risk factors:

• Chronic or recurrent otitis media
• Cleft palate or other craniofacial anomalies
• Family history of hearing loss in childhood
• Exposure to potentially harmful levels of noise

Vision Screening

Children in grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 should have vision screens. In addition, a screening should be done when there are parent or teacher concerns and for any new students.

Scoliosis Screening

Scoliosis is an abnormal lateral (side-to-side) curvature of the spine. The spine of a child with scoliosis might resemble an "S" or a "C" rather than a straight line.

• Girls are to be screened in the fall of 5th grade and spring of 6th grade.
• Screening is no longer recommended for boys.
• The preferred screening method is the scoliometer, used according to instructions.
• Children screened with an angle of trunk rotation (ATR) greater than or equal to 6 degrees are to be referred to their primary care provider.