Screenings

Vision and Hearing

The Vision and Hearing Screening Program at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) works to identify children with vision and hearing disorders who attend any public, private, parochial, denominational school or a Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) licensed child care center and licensed child care home in Texas. The mission of the state-mandated hearing and vision screening program is to identify hearing and vision problems in children as early as possible. State law mandates that the following children must be screened for vision and hearing within the first 120 days of admission:

  • Four-year-olds by September 1
  • Kindergartners
  • First-time entrants in the state of Texas

In addition, the following children must be screened within the school year, preferably within the first semester (Post Oak practice):

  • 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th graders

The school nurse will conduct the screenings in the fall and notify parents through Magnus of their child’s results. The screenings are not diagnostic, but the results may indicate that your child needs evaluation beyond school capabilities. Referrals to physicians are made as needed following the screening, and parents are encouraged to obtain appropriate medical follow up following a screening referral. 

Spinal Screenings

Texas State law requires that schools must screen students for abnormal spinal curvature in accordance with the following schedule: 

  • Girls will be screened two times, once at age 10 (or fall semester of grade 5) and again at age 12 (or fall semester of grade 7).
  • Boys will be screened one time at age 13 or 14 (or fall semester of grade 8).

Trained screeners will check your child for signs of spinal problems like scoliosis. Catching a spinal problem early can make the treatment much easier. Not treating spinal problems can lead to serious health problems.

Boys and girls will be screened separately and one at a time. The school will send you a letter if your child does not pass the screening. The letter will tell you how to follow up with a doctor. This screening is not a medical exam. Your child still needs to see a doctor for checkups. If you do not wish to have your child screened for religious reasons, you must submit an exemption to the school nurse through your Magnus portal when screening notification letters are sent at least two weeks prior to the screen.

Acanthosis Nigricans

The 77th Texas Legislature passed legislation requiring school districts to screen students in 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades for Acanthosis Nigricans (AN). AN is a skin marker which may indicate pre-diabetes. AN is a light brown or black, velvety, rough, or thickened area or “marker” on the surface of the skin (usually on the neck). The presence of AN may signal high insulin levels, which puts a person at risk for more serious chronic conditions.

TB (Tuberculin) Testing Requirements

All new employees must have a TB test before the start of the school year. If for any reason a faculty member cannot take the Tine test or Mantoux test, a chest x-ray may be taken every three years.