Baltimore health department conducts annual hearing and vision screenings for students

The City Council of Baltimore convened on April 9, 2025, to discuss public health and environmental issues, focusing on the health department's annual hearing and vision screenings for students. The meeting highlighted the department's commitment to ensuring that children in public and private schools from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade receive essential health services.

The health department conducts approximately 15,764 hearing screenings and 17,729 vision screenings each year. If a student does not pass these screenings, parents or guardians are notified through a letter that includes a referral to an audiology or eye care professional. Parents are encouraged to confirm that their child has received the necessary services, and the department tracks these referrals to ensure follow-up.

During the summer months, health department staff, who are employed for ten months of the year, make follow-up calls to parents who may have missed screenings during the school year. This initiative aims to assist families in obtaining the necessary care for their children.

Additionally, the meeting addressed the expanded vision services available through the Vision for Baltimore program. This program, a collaboration between the health department, Baltimore City Schools, Johns Hopkins University, nonprofit provider Vision to Learn, and Warby Parker, provides vision screenings on a rotating three-year cycle. Annually, around 16,000 screenings are conducted in 40 to 50 schools from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. Students who do not pass the vision screening are offered eye exams through Vision to Learn's mobile clinic, with parental consent. Those in need of glasses can choose their preferred style and color of frames.

The discussions underscored the city's ongoing efforts to enhance student health services and ensure that all children have access to necessary vision and hearing care. The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue tracking and improving these health initiatives in Baltimore City schools.