Health Screenings

The purpose of hearing screening is to identify students who may have a hearing problem.  Children in prekindergarten, kindergarten, first, third, fifth, and seventh grades are screened for hearing in the fall of each year.  Children who are new to the district are screened for hearing as soon as possible after enrollment.  

Signs of hearing problems that may be noticed at home include frequently requesting to have things repeated; turning one side of the head toward the speaker; watching a person's lips when they are speaking; or inattentiveness to conversation or discussion.  Young children who have problems with hearing may also have problems with speech and language development. 

More information about hearing screening is available at the Department of State Health Services website. 

The purpose of vision screening is to identify students who may have problems seeing at a distance.  Children in prekindergarten, kindergarten, first, third, fifth, and seventh grades are screened for vision in the fall of each year.  Children who are new to the district are screened for vision as soon as possible after enrollment.

Signs of vision problems that may be noticed at home include frequently tilting or turning the head to see; frequent or excessive blinking; frequently rubbing the eyes; closing or covering one eye to see; and, squinting or leaning in to see. 

Two state approved vision screening methods are used in Mesquite ISD, vision charts and photoscreening. The HOTV vision chart is used to screen students who are not able to identify letters of the alphabet most of the time.  This screening chart relies on the child's ability to match symbols on a card to symbols on the chart placed 10 feet away.   
The Sloan vision chart is used to screen students who are able to identify letters of the alphabet most of the time.  
Photoscreening is used to screen students in prekindergarten and kindergarten, and those students who aren't able to match symbols or to identify letters.   

More information about vision screening is available at the Department of State Health Services website.

The purpose for TRAT2DC screening is to assess students for the acanthosis nigricans marker which a skin condition that signals high insulin levels and is considered a risk factor for developing Type 2 Diabetes.  Students are screened for the presence of acanthosis nigricans marker on the back of their neck during other mandated health screenings.  The school nurse follows up with each student identified as having the acanthosis nigricans marker using criteria developed by the agency overseeing TRAT2DC screening in Texas, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Border Health Office.  

Mesquite ISD school nurses provide spinal screening for 5th grade girls, 7th grade girls, and 8th grade boys, during the fall semester each year.  Parent notification is sent home with students at least two weeks prior to screening.  

The Department of State Health Services allows for exemption from spinal screening for religious reasons, for spinal screening provided at the appropriate age by a licensed healthcare professional, or for students under the care of a licensed healthcare professional for one or more spinal problems. 

Exemption forms are available through the school nurse or may be downloaded and printed below:

Affidavit for Exemption from Spinal Screening