Dubai, UAE - The importance of early childhood vision and hearing screenings is crucial to your child's development - it is an essential part of preventative care. Early detection leads to early intervention, which means you can correct or delay any problems as they arise. Routine screenings at the hospital are designed to ensure your child can see and hear as they normally should.

How often should you get your child screened?
Vision screening: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), your child must get their vision checked at birth, during the first 6 months, between the ages of 1 – 2, at 3 years of age, and between the ages of 4 – 5 to help detect vision issues.

Hearing screening: AAP recommends hearing screening for all newborns. Even if your child shows no signs of hearing changes, they can be screened again at ages 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10. Additional screening can be done between the ages of 11 – 21 or any time there is a concern.

Most children who have a vision or hearing issue will not have symptoms until after the age of 6 months. The same is true for children with speech delays. These delays may not be noticed until they start school and are unable to communicate with their teachers and classmates effectively. If you detect any issues with your child's vision or changes in your child's hearing, talk with your pediatrician right away. Early detection and treatment are critical as they can help prevent future problems that could affect your child's learning ability, behaviour, or development.

Identifying problems early on comes with a plethora of benefits

For better communication and learning
Infants with vision issues or hearing delays may not be able to communicate to you that they can't see or hear. Therefore, you need to be vigilant and notice the signs. Early care will allow your child to learn, read, see the blackboard in school, and participate in class activities like everyone else. If you suspect that your baby's ears are affected by the condition, there are several ways to test for it. Your pediatrician will conduct an examination and ask questions about how your baby's hearing has been since birth - for example, whether he responds when called by name (or other noises), turns toward sounds he likes and away from those he doesn't like (such as vacuum cleaners), points at objects that make noise to get another person's attention, and so on.

Addresses disability
While it's important to understand that children with vision or hearing issues may not show any symptoms until much later in life, it's also important to know that they can have other developmental delays as well. If your child has been diagnosed with vision or hearing issues, it can affect other areas of development as well. It can be followed by potential delays including speech and language, social skills (such as making friends), motor skills (like running), and academic performance. Hearing issues can have a significant impact on a child’s development and ability to communicate effectively with others (including you). It may not present as fussiness; more likely they'll show signs of difficulty learning a language or socializing with others. Early screenings allow parents and pediatric doctors a chance to identify any potential problems before they become major issues down the road. Once we identify these issues early on, myPediaclinic can help your child learn the best way to deal with them moving forward!

Help your child reach their fullest potential
Children with these problems may be slower than their peers when it comes to learning how to walk, talk, and make decisions. Detecting them early on - especially before schooling - will help your child improve upon them with proper medical care. This will allow them to begin their school life with confidence and excel in academics. It will also benefit your child to participate in their favourite sports and extracurricular activities - and lead a healthier life.

If you suspect a problem with your child's development after a screening test that shows they don't meet age-appropriate standards for vision or hearing, get them checked by your pediatrician right away - the sooner these issues are addressed the better off they'll be later in life!

At home, watch for potential vision or hearing issues as your child grows. Possible signs are if they:

- Don’t respond or startle at sounds by 1 month or turn toward sounds by 3-4 months of age
- Concentrate more on vibrating noises to respond
- Don’t pay attention when being read to
- Don’t say their first words by 12 to 15 months of age
- Want louder volume in devices
- Slow to sit or walk unsupported and have trouble holding their head steady
- Difficulty reading a textbook and being unable to focus on the blackboard
- Sensitivity to light
- Have eyes that are misaligned or bulged
- White or grayish-white color in the pupil
- Have eyes that flutter up and down quickly or from side to side
- Persistent redness or itching in the eyes

Talk to your pediatrician about the best ways to manage these concerns and the treatment option that suits your child. The sooner you start these screenings, the less likely it will be that other concerns will arise later on down the road.

Schedule a hearing and vision screening for your child.
myPediaclinic is one of the leading pediatrics in Dubai. Our team of qualified award-winning pediatricians at myPediaclinic in Dubai Healthcare City are highly experienced in managing vision and hearing problems. We provide state-of-the-art care to young patients in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere with efficient treatment. Our pediatricians will examine your child regularly and provide the best treatment for their growth and development.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment