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Screening of vision and hearing in primary school children
Martin Lehmann Boesen1, Kirsten Lykke2
1Department of Paediatric Medicine, Hospital of Southern Jutland, Sonderborg, Denmark.
Insights
In Indonesia, 2% of primary students had vision impairments and 6% had hearing impairments. Early screening for these sensory deficits is crucial for educational success and future productivity.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Ophthalmology
- Audiology
Background:
- Sensory impairments like vision and hearing loss affect millions globally, impacting education and career prospects.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights significant global burdens of uncorrected refractive errors and hearing loss.
- Indonesia lacks systematic hearing and vision screening in its public primary education system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of vision and hearing impairments among primary school pupils in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
- To determine the need for integrated sensory screening within the Indonesian public school system.
Main Methods:
- Vision screening utilized the Snellen chart, while hearing was assessed using distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE).
- Screenings were conducted in five urban primary schools, covering grades 1-6.
- Referrals were made to ophthalmologists for vision below 6/18 and ENTs for hearing below 30 decibels.
Main Results:
- A total of 775 pupils underwent vision screening and 777 underwent hearing screening.
- The study identified that 2% of pupils had vision disabilities and 6% had hearing disabilities.
- These findings underscore a significant prevalence of unaddressed sensory impairments in the studied population.
Conclusions:
- Implementing routine hearing and vision screening in Indonesian primary schools is recommended.
- Early detection and intervention can improve educational access and outcomes for affected children.
- Addressing these sensory deficits is vital for Indonesia's future productivity and socioeconomic development.
Background:
Hearing and sight are two basic senses in terms of education and profession. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 15 million children worldwide suffer from uncorrected refractive disorders and another 275 million people are handicapped due to compromised hearing. In Indonesia, screening primary school children for hearing and vision is not part of the free public health-care system. Knowledge of the status of a child's hearing and vision may help secure the child's education and future profession.
Materials And Methods:
In five primary schools in a poor urban neighborhood in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, we screened pupils from class 1 to 6, for vision and hearing handicaps, following the WHO's definitions of handicap. On location in the primary schools, we screened vision using a Snellen chart and hearing using distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE). Those with vision below 6/18 were referred to an ophthalmologist and pupils with hearing below 30 decibels at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kilohertz were referred to an ear nose and throat (ENT) specialist for final testing.
Results:
Totally, 775 pupils were vision screened and 777 pupils were hearing screened. We found that 2% were disabled by sight and 6% by hearing.
Conclusion:
Lost without proper education, these pupils can, with simple recommendations, have access to education. We recommend that Indonesia start screening its primary school pupils for hearing and vision to secure the country's future productivity and socioeconomic development.
