Hearing tests
Hearing tests help identify hearing loss that is likely to interfere with:
- normal speech
- language development
- learning.
These tests also identify tamariki with persistent middle ear disorder, which causes significant hearing loss.
Tamariki over 5 years old can have the same hearing test as an adult, called an audiogram. Tamariki over 2½ years old can have a hearing test involving play. Tamariki under 2½ need special hearing tests, which check that the tamaiti (child) is turning towards sounds. For tamariki under 6 months, refer to HealthEd.
Newborn Hearing Screening: Your Baby's Hearing Screen — HealthEd (external link)
A tympanogram records how well the eardrum moves in response to a small change in air pressure. This is helpful to diagnose problems with the middle ear. These can include glue ear, as glue ear can cause temporary hearing loss.
Eye tests
Eye tests help identify tamariki who may have lazy eye (amblyopia). They are checked at an age when this may still be treatable, and to measure the sharpness of a child's vision.
All tamariki have the opportunity to have their eyes checked at several ages.
For newborn pēpi and tamariki under 5, these tests are done through Well Child Tamariki Ora. At 4 years old, these are done as part of the B4 School Check. From age 5 to 18, these tests are done through your child's school.
The B4 School Check (internal link)
The KidsHealth website has more information about hearing and eye tests.
Hearing, vision and newborn screening — KidsHealth (external link)