It’s all good. The Pennsylvania School Health Code required a health screening for our daughter, Sally. During the school day, she participated in a battery of tests. Her vision is good. Her hearing is good. Her height, weight and body mass index are all good. She can see and hear, but could she die?
The CDC estimates that 1 in every 1000 children suffer from hearing loss. It also suggests that vision loss is not very common in kids – more common in adults. So, if the incidents of hearing and vision loss (or impairment) are so low in children, why does the State mandate testing in these areas?
There are probably a few reasons, but I imagine the most obvious is that kids with unknown hearing and/or vision problems have trouble learning. Therefore, early detection is important.
At Simon’s Fund, we believe that 1 out of every 100 children have a potentially fatal heart condition. This is validated by studies that have been conducted in Europe, and from the data gathered at our own screenings (check out our counter on the home page).
So, why doesn’t the State include an ECG exam in the health screening? It is not expensive and it is no more invasive than a hearing or eye exam. Here’s how it differs though . . . this test can save lives.
As parents, we want to know that our children won’t have any obstacles to learning. However, we also want to know that our children will be alive to learn. Every year, thousands of kids drop dead from sudden cardiac arrest. The heart is a pretty important organ. Let’s stop taking it for granted.
