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When should it be done? of Hearing and vision tests for children

Routine tests

Babies can respond to sights and sounds from an early age. Midwives and hospital staff carry out a number of tests on every newborn baby. These tests help find any problems that a child is born with. These include genetic (inherited) conditions such as being born with cataracts, or the results of any infections caught by the mother during pregnancy. For example, there is a small risk that a woman who catches rubella during pregnancy might have a child with hearing impairment. In 2000 the government announced that every newborn baby in the UK would have a hearing test within 48 hours of birth. This should be implemented by the end of 2005.

Premature babies are more likely to have early problems with their hearing and sight, such as crossed eyes or a squint. These may get better without treatment as the baby gets older, but it is worth detecting them in case treatment is needed. All premature babies and babies that have  low weight when they are born should have routine eye tests for retinopathy of prematurity and other eye problems, as the eyes finish developing late in pregnancy.

A health visitor will usually check your baby’s hearing and vision sometime between 10 days and 6 weeks after birth. This is when you are no longer under the immediate care of your midwife.

You will also be invited to take your baby for further development checks at 6-9 months, 18-24 months, 3-3.5 years, and around the time your child starts primary school.

Hearing tests may be carried out during routine development checks. The exact timetable for tests depends on the policies of your local primary care trust (PCT), and on whether your child has shown signs of hearing difficulties. In the future, the government plans that a sight test should be given by an orthoptist (a specialist in vision and eye abnormalities) between the ages of 4 and 5 years. In some areas this already happens, or a school nurse carries out hearing and sight tests when a child first starts school. 

The school nurse often carries out a further health check in Year 7, the start of secondary school, when children are aged 11. After this age it is usually up to the individual child to visit their school nurse with any health concerns.

You can always see the health visitor or school nurse at any time, if you have any concerns. You do not have to wait for a routine appointment.

Additional tests

Eye tests are free to children up to the age of 16. It’s worth taking advantage of this for regular eye checks at your optician, even if you and your child are not aware of any particular sight problem. You might also be referred to an optician for an eye test if your child has regular headaches, which can be caused by straining the eyes.

Hearing tests should be given after certain conditions that can cause hearing loss. These include:

  • Bacterial meningitis,
  • Prolonged treatment with ototoxic drugs (drugs that can cause hearing loss, such as certain antibiotics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, if given in particular situations or doses), 
  • Severe head injury.

You should always visit your GP for initial tests if you are worried about your child’s hearing or vision.