One in four children under 5 could need hearing or vision treatment

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One in four children under 5 could need hearing or vision treatment

Mia and Lia Trumbach were prescribed glasses after screening by the LIFE-led programme
Mia and Lia Trumbach were prescribed glasses after screening by the LIFE-led programme. – Photo: Supplied

More than a quarter of children under 5 have eyesight or hearing issues which require investigation or treatment, a charity programme which provides vision and hearing screenings has found.

Since 2020, 62 out of 260 children screened for eye problems across eight nurseries and preschools have been referred for further testing.

In the same period at the same schools, 83 of 212 children tested for hearing problems were recommended for some sort of follow-up.

The screenings have been carried out by Optical Outlook and the Cayman Hearing Center, which have provided medical staff and equipment free of charge to the Thrive By Five programme, run by literacy charity LIFE.

They have uncovered visual problems including squint and amblyopia – commonly known as lazy eye – and more than one in 20 has been found to need glasses.

Hearing issues ranging from severe wax build-up, to borderline hearing loss, and delays in auditory processing have been diagnosed.

All these conditions can be corrected if treatment is begun early enough, but if diagnosis or treatment are delayed, problems can become irreversible because visual and auditory development stops at around age 7.

A member of Cayman Hearing Center staff conducts a hearing screening, January 2024. Photo: Supplied
A member of Cayman Hearing Center staff conducts a hearing screening, January 2024. – Photo: Supplied

Those involved with the initiative called on parents to make sure their children’s eyes and ears are tested by the age of 3 or 4 and not to rely solely on post-natal screenings.

Maria Trumbach, mother of Mia, now 7, and Lia, now 5, bought glasses for both her daughters after the programme found they needed them.

She said: “When Lia was in Rite Start in Savannah she did the visual screening with LIFE, they recommended we should get her tested further because she might need glasses – and she did.

“It was good, it was very easy. I called them, booked an appointment, and picked out the glasses the same day and within a couple of weeks we had our new glasses.  I’d absolutely encourage other parents to get their children screened.”

Dr Annette Stephenson, CEO and audiologist at the Cayman Hearing Center has, with her team, performed all the hearing tests since the programme began in 2020.

She explained that, if left undiagnosed, hearing problems can become speech problems, and can commonly lead to – or be misdiagnosed as – behaviour problems too.

“If you can’t hear, you can’t speak.

“And if children misunderstand what’s being said, or they don’t hear when teacher says ‘do this’, – well, often the teacher says ‘you’re misbehaving’ or ‘they don’t listen’.”

From left: LIFE driector Erica DellOglio, CHC owner Dr Annette Stephenson, and Optical Outlook optometrist Louise Cagney
From left: LIFE director Erica Dell’Oglio, CHC owner Dr Annette Stephenson, and Optical Outlook optometrist Louise Cagney. – Photo: Supplied

Louise Cagney, optometrist at Optical Outlook, has, with colleagues, conducted all the visual screenings, using an auto-refractor device which checks pupil response and eye alignment.

She said: “LIFE got in touch and I just thought it was such a good opportunity to help.”

“I find the same thing, often there can be a misconception that these are ‘naughty kids’.

“I’ll be told ‘she’s tough work’ or ‘this one won’t sit still’, but a lot of the time it’s those that need the vision correction, or there is something which needs to be investigated or treated.

“And sometimes it’s the really shy kids – they can’t see well so they’re not so confident in their surroundings.”

All the tested children’s parents consent to the screening in advance, and Cagney and Dr Stephenson contact parents directly if they believe there is need for follow-up.

With spectacles costing $200 or more per pair and hearing therapies also expensive, treatment costs can put some families off, but Optical Outlook and CHC discount their products and waive co-pay fees to Thrive By Five families.

Neither business demands any kind of exclusivity from parents, who are welcome to go to other providers for follow-up treatment should they wish.

Tracy Galvin, LIFE’s programme manager responsible for Thrive By Five, said ensuring kids can see and hear is part of ensuring they can read and learn, which is LIFE’s driving motivation. 

To donate to LIFE go to https://www.life.org.ky/donate.

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