Health Screenings

 Vision and Hearing | Spinal Scoliosis | Acanthosis Nigricans (AN)

Vision and Hearing

Health screening programs for vision and hearing are required by state code. The Special Senses and Communication Disorders Act, Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 3688 requires that children enrolled in a public, private, or parochial school in Texas are provided with vision and hearing screening. Local policy requires the Eanes Independent School District to comply with Board of Health screening requirements. The schedule for screening is established by the Texas Department of Health and is supported by state and local policy.

The school nurse will organize and supervise all screening programs in the school. Screeners must have completed an approved training program and be certified by the state.

The nurse is responsible for compiling all screening results and:

• rescreening all children whose initial results fall outside the acceptable range

• referring all children whose initial and follow-up screening results fall outside the acceptable range

• following up on all referrals

• assisting families in identifying resources as needed

• submitting complete reported to the Director of Student Support Services by the end of the school year.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis screening is required by Texas Department of Health Rules. Local policy supports this requirement. Spinal screening is required in grades 6 and 9, but according to allowances made in state and local rules, EISD screens all students in grades 5 and 8.

The school nurse will organize and supervise all screening programs in the school. Screeners must have completed an approved training program be certified by the state. Although nurses, as health care professionals, are not required by law to complete an approved training program, EISD strongly recommends that nurses complete the certification program and adhere to the recertification schedule.

The nurse is responsible for spinal screening in the schools including:

• scheduling the screening to minimize interruption of academic instruction

• notifying parents in advance of the intent to conduct spinal screening and of the nature and purpose of the screening

• conducting the screening with consideration to the students' right to privacy

• rescreening students whose initial results fall outside the acceptable range

• referring all children whose initial and follow-up screening results fall outside the acceptable range

• following up on all referrals

• assisting families in identifying resources as needed

• submitting complete reports to the Director of Student Support Services by the end of the year.

Nurses will follow the guidelines established by the Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Maternal and Child Health, Child Health Division. These guidelines illustrate techniques for screening, and procedures for conducting a screening program in the school.

The District will submit a complete district report to the Texas Department of Health by June 30 of each year.

Acanthosis Nigricans (AN)

Acanthosis Nigricans is a skin conditon (usually found around the neck) that signals high insulin levels in the body. Insulin is produced by an organ called the pancreas. Insulin is important because it helps "carry" the glucose or sugar to the cells in your body. High insulin levels indicate that the body is resisting the insulin that is being produced. As a result, the pancreas produces more insulin than needed, and through time, it can stop producing enough insulin to take the glucose to the cells in the body. "Acanthosis Nigricans can help identify persons who run the risk of developing diabetes in the future. Students are screened in elementary and middle schools in selected grades.

Importance?

Acanthosis nigricans is important because of the increasingly alarming rates of persons developing Type 2 diabetes. Until recently, it was believed that children could not develop Type 2 diabetes. However, children can. Acanthosis nigricans screenings can help identify persons who have high insulin levels and who may be at-risk for developing the disease. Once identified, the necessary measures to lower the insulin levels and reduce the risk of developing diabetes can be taken. Exercise and proper nutrition will help the body become more sensitive to insulin and lower insulin levels. Similarly, the acanthosis nigricans markers will begin to fade.

Insulin Resistance?

Scientists have also found that having high insulin levels over long periods of time can increase the risk of the following conditions:

• Cardiovascular problems
• Hypertension
• Increased cholesterol and triglycerides

• amenorrhea (irregular menstrual cycles),
• hirsutism (extreme facial hair),
• severe acne
• enlarged ovaries, and
• obesity