Visual Screening for Special Education
1)Please check the referral form for child’s name and other pertinent data. The results of the visual screening will be recorded directly on the referral form. All students who are psychoeducationally assessed must have a vision/hearing screening.
2)For our screening we will be using the Snellen E and Letter Chart generally.
3)Explain to the children the meaning and purpose of the test securing their understanding, confidence and cooperation.
4)The test chart should be placed on a wall where there are no distractions from extraneous light, which may come from either sunlight or ordinary room illumination. Child should not face any glare or bright light.
5)A distance of 20 feet should be measured from chart to child’s position.
6)Place chart on wall so that the 20/30 line (has “30 feet” written directly above it) of symbols is level with child’s eye.
7)With small children, the test can be made in the spirit of a game with the children indication the direction in which the “legs” of the “table” are pointing.
8)Child to be tested may either sit or stand at the 20-foot mark directly in front of the chart. Recheck Item 5 to be sure chart is at correct light.
9)Procedures for Screening:
a)Check acuity in both eyes. Cover left eye, check right eye, and vice versa, following a standardized procedure as much as possible.
b)Place eye cover (a clean 3”x5” card with rounded corners on paper cup) over eye to be tested.
c)Make sure the card is not pressed against eye.
d)Tell child to keep both eyes open throughout test.
e)Do not allow him to peek with covered eye.
f)Discontinue testing if child fails with either eye to read correctly more than half the line of symbols specified for his age group.
g)Do not inform child of failing score.
h)Record the score and if retest is needed, refer to school nurse or vision consultant. We will in turn contact parents and/or refer to the Health Department for further screening.
i)Expose whole line of chart at a time changing sequence of symbols to avoid memorization.
j)Place child at 20 feet mark exactly. If standing, child’s heels should touch line, if seated, back of seat should be at line.
10)If child wears glasses, test with glasses on.
11)Use the 20/30 line. Ask the child to point or tell you the direction in which the E’s are pointing. If he reads correctly 3 of the 4 E’s, he passes. If he passes with the right eye, cover it and test the left one. If he does not read 3 of the 4 E’s, he fails the test. Stop at point of failure, records score and proceed to test next child.
12)Record the scores. (In line marked “R” for right eye and other “L” for left. Record “P” if child passes, “F” if he fails.
13)Encourage the child to do his best to read the symbols, but avoid permitting him to strain.
14)Observe the child’s behavior during test and record signs of eyestrain; i.e., forward thrusting of head, eyes filling with tears, excessive blinking and frowning.
15)If Snellen Letter Chart is used in place of the symbol E Chart, follow same instructions except for the one change given below:
a)In 20/30 line there are 6 letters of the alphabet. If the child can read correctly 4 of the 6 letters with each eye, he passes the test.
16)Pupils who are observed to have persistent signs or symptoms which suggest a visual difficulty, even though they pass the Snellen Test, should be referred to the public health nurse.