Your child will have a hearing check as part of their B4 School Check.
You will get the results of this screening in the mail or your child will bring them home with them. The information you receive explains the results of the screening and how your child can get a further assessment, if they need it.
Find out more about referral for a full assessment [1] (available in English, Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Korean, Hindi, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese).
Find a Well Child Tamariki Ora provider [2].
If your child doesn't have their hearing screened at 4 years of age, it's important they have this screening in their first year at school. This screening picks up most hearing problems.
If your child missed their screening, contact your child's school to make sure the vision hearing technician screens your child on their next visit.
Find out more about how to keep an eye on your child's hearing [3] [4](available in English, Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Korean, Hindi, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese).
After your child has their hearing checked at 4 or 5 years of age, they will not have another hearing check at school.
If you are concerned about your child's hearing, it's important that you visit your family doctor. Your doctor may refer your child to the hospital for an assessment by a hearing specialist (audiologist).
If your child does have a hearing problem, finding out early is good for their learning and development.
Vision and hearing technicians will screen your child for lazy eye (amblyopia) as part of the B4 School Check.
Your child will either 'pass' this screening or they will get a referral for a full assessment.
You will get the results of this screening in the mail or your child will bring them home with them. If your child needs further assessment, the results will explain what you need to do.
Your child may have a vision problem if they:
Your child will not have their vision checked again until they are in Year 7. If you are concerned about your child's vision or eyes, make sure you take your child to an optometrist or ophthalmologist. If your child does have a vision problem, finding it early is good for their learning and development.
Screening doesn't cover all vision problems. It won't tell you if your child needs glasses.
Remember, screening doesn't cover all vision problems. The vision test checks for a big difference between your child's eyes. It won't tell you if your child needs glasses.
Some children who passed this screen may have other vision problems or could develop a vision problem later.
Find out about the signs of vision or eye problems in children [5].
Find out more about how to keep an eye on your child's vision if they have passed the screening [6] (available in English, Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Korean, Hindi, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese).
Check the HealthEd website for informaiotn about a referral for a full vision assessment [7] (available in English, Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Hindi, Korean, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese).
If your child doesn't have their vision screened for lazy eye (amblyopia) at 4 years of age, it's important they have this screening done in their first year at school.
If your child missed their screening, contact your child's school to make sure the vision hearing technician screens your child on their next visit.
This screening does not find all vision problems.
If you have questions about your child's vision screening, call the Ministry of Health's free 24-hour health advice service, Healthline (0800 611 116) or talk to the vision hearing technician who screened your child, an optometrist, ophthalmologist or your family doctor.
This page last reviewed 17 April 2023.
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Links
[1] https://healthed.govt.nz/products/referral-for-a-full-assessment-b4-school-hearing-screening-english-version
[2] https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/pregnancy-and-kids/services-and-support-you-and-your-child/well-child-tamariki-ora-visits/find-well-child-tamariki-ora-provider
[3] https://healthed.govt.nz/products/keeping-an-eye-on-your-childs-hearing-b4-school-hearing-screening-english-version
[4] http://www.healthed.govt.nz/resource/keeping-eye-your-childs-hearing-b4-school-hearing-screening-english-version
[5] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/signs-vision-or-eye-problems-children
[6] http://www.healthed.govt.nz/resource/keeping-eye-your-childs-vision-b4-school-vision-screening-english-version
[7] https://healthed.govt.nz/products/referral-for-a-full-assessment-b4-school-vision-screening-english-version
[8] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/1649
[9] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F517