Hearing Screenings for School-Aged Students
Audiology staff at Iowa’s AEAs perform hearing screenings for all kindergarten and 2nd grade students, and any 1st graders new to school, in public school districts and accredited non-public schools across the state. These screenings are provided at no cost to districts/schools and parents as part of the AEA’s Child Find obligation.
Please note that hearing screenings are not available for district/school employees.
Signs a Student May Have a Hearing Issue
If students display any of these signs, they could have a hearing issue:
Attention or listening concerns
- Short attention span
- Easily distracted
- Need instructions repeated
- Say “Huh?” or “What?” often
- Don’t respond when their back is turned
Academic or communication concerns
- Difficulty with comprehension
- Reading/writing struggles
- Speech or articulation delays
- Receptive/expressive language delays
Behavior or social concerns
- Watch faces closely for clues • Seem quiet or withdrawn • Copy others’ work
- Behavior concerns even during preferred activities
Physical concerns
- Frequent colds, runny nose, or ear aches
- Appear tired or easily fatigued • Speak loudly
Please also consider that hearing may be having an impact on the student if there are academic concerns, especially in reading and writing, communication concerns or behavior concerns.
What to Do If You’re Concerned About a Student’s Hearing
If a teacher or parent is concerned about a student’s hearing, they should contact the school’s AEA team for assistance. AEA staff will work through the “disability suspected” process as they do for other areas of concern.