Grades 2 and 3 learners in Bacnotan, La Union underwent vision and hearing screening as part of the Department of Health’s (DOH) initiative to help identify health issues and nutritional deficiencies among elementary school children.
The same screening will be held in other towns in La Union, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, DOH-Ilocos Region Communication Management Unit head Glen Ramos said in a phone interview Tuesday.
He said three of the more than 200 children were positive for hearing problems and will undergo further tests to determine the treatment or assistance the DOH will give them.
“The teacher thought they are not listening well to her instructions but apparently, the children have hearing problems,” he added.
DOH-Ilocos Region Director Paula Paz Sydiongco said the screening is essential to identify students with vision or hearing impairments that could affect their academic performance.
“With regular screening, this problem can be detected and corrected early,” she said.
The most commonly observed behaviors of some of the students during the reading exercises were squinting and blinking, which are signs that a student may have vision problems that will eventually lead to poor academic performance and low grades.
An oral health and nutrition assessment was also conducted for Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners of Bacnotan Central School. (PNA)
