Screening PK Students

Specialties School

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This year our PK students have difficulty with processing and following instructions. Can anyone offer any tips on how to do HOTV Vision screening and PureTone screening? I usually do the point and match for HOTV and raising hands during the hearing.

Any help or advice would be appreciated :)

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

I use the tumbling E for PK. I give a "practice E" to the teachers and instruct them to reheorifice the procedure every day for a week before I do the screening. There are always a few who don't get it but I get most of them the first time around.

I also give the PK teachers a fake headset to practice with the class during the same rehearsal week; raising their hand when they hear a beep noise the teacher makes. - regardless of which ear, doesn't matter which hand they raise.

I've been working at a public Pre-K only for 17 years. 500-600 4 year olds every year. First, I do not even try to group screen them until as late as possible-they are really just learning how to follow directions for at least the first 6 weeks.

For vision, I use the HTOV chart and it works very well. I have the card with the HTOV on a stand in front of them and I have them point to the letter I am showing them. I specifically ask them not to say the letter-to just point. I vary the phrasing "Show me this one" "Where is this one?" "Which one is this?" as each kid understands it asked a different way. I often use the line isolating card and the letter isolating card as well.

For hearing, I do pure tone, but I use conditioned play audiometry. I have them drop a block in a box when they hear the sound. I demonstrate it multiple times by playing all 3 sounds for them into the air at 90 decibels. I then demonstrate putting the block in as I play the sound. Before I screen each child, I ask them "What do you do when you hear the sounds? " as a check for understanding. It works pretty well.

Any questions, please feel free to ask. I've got the process pretty much down to a science!

I use the tumbling E and give a practice E just like OldDude. :saint:

If I have to use the HOTV (VERY rarely), I tell them it's a game and help me match the letters.

For the pure tone hearing I tell the child to touch my hand when they hear the funny noise. I'm squatted next to them so they can't see me touching the button for the sound. :sneaky:

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Fortunately for me, our district purchased a SPOT Vision Screener. I screened 50 PK kids yesterday in about 30 minutes...Total time. :yes:

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