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sight, hearing & dental checks for infants
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The following information relates to suggested tests for children's eyes, hearing and teeth. If you are at all concerned, at any time, about your child's sight or hearing, consult your doctor. For concerns about teeth, consult your dentist.
sight
Your doctor, or child health nurse, will check your child's eyes for major
defects during standard medical examinations. If you would like additional tests to be made,
you will need to book an appointment with a private optometrist. Eye examinations
do receive Medicare rebates, check with your optometrist what percentage of
the fee can be reclaimed and about any bulk billing facilities.
Providing you have no undue concerns, it is suggested that you get your child's eyes tested twice prior to starting primary school:
- at approx 3 years of age
- at 4 - 5 years of age
If you are at all concerned about your child's eyes at any time, consult your optometrist as soon as possible.
For more information online about children's eyes, see this
factsheet from the Children's Hospital at Westmead (NSW)
hearing
Your child health nurse, or GP, will ask if your child has normal responses to sound during standard medical
examinations. The following online page of the
Parenting & Child Health section of the Child & Youth Health, SA website has information on normal hearing responses at different ages, as well as information on
children at risk of hearing loss and what to do if you are concerned.
Newborn babies considered 'at risk' of hearing difficulties may be tested in hospital ('at risk' could include situations such as physical problems in the child, premature birth, illness at birth or a family history of hearing problems). Some hospitals test the hearing of all newborns before they leave hospital - but this is not standard. Otherwise, children are not routinely tested for hearing until they go to kindy or school. To check if tests are provided, contact your hospital or school for further information.
If you are at all concerned about your child's hearing and you would like tests to be made, consult an audiologist, your child health nurse, GP or paediatrician who will be able to refer you, if necessary, for a hearing test with a specialist. You can also book appointments with private hearing specialists as detailed below.
Australian Hearing provides government
funded hearing rehabilitation services to any children and young adults up to the age of 21. For more information about
Australian Hearing and their services, call 13 17 97.
private companies
John Pearcy Audiology
qld: Shop 4, Carina Plaza, 876 Old Cleveland Rd, Carina, Brisbane, 4152 ph: (07) 3398 8862
The Neurosensory Unit
qld: Edward St, Brisbane ph: (07) 3220 3522 or Freecall 1800 657 959
qld: Cotlew St, Ashmore, Gold Coast ph: (07) 5527 8722
qld: Sand St, Tweed Heads (NSW) ph: (07) 5599 2799
qld: Scott St, Toowoomba ph: (07) 4638 8015
qld: Nicklin Way, Minyama, Sunshine Coast ph: Freecall 1800 657 959
Queensland Hearing
qld: Wickham Tce, Brisbane ph: (07) 3832 5155
qld: Murrajong Rd, Springwood ph: (07) 3290 0288
qld: cnr Queen & Bloomfield Sts, Cleveland ph: (07) 3832 5155
qld: Brisbane St, Ipswich ph: (07) 3282 7022
qld: Mapleton Rd, Nambour ph: (07) 5476 1500
Station Rd Homoeopathic Children's Ear Clinic
qld: 1/21 Station Rd, Indooroopilly, Brisbane ph: (07) 3378 3499
iHear
wa: Suite 7, 162 Wanneroo Rd, Tuart Hill ph: (08) 9349 0595
Telethon Speech & Hearing
wa: 36 Dodd St, Wembley ph: (08) 9387 9888
also provide screening for newborns at some private hospitals in perth
teeth & dental checks
It is recommended that you take your infant to visit your dentist as soon as the first teeth are through. Your dentist can
advise you on the frequency of subsequent visits as well as providing advice on cleaning,
general care of your baby's teeth and use of toothpaste. Cleaning should start as soon as
teeth come through; start with a soft, clean cloth or soft toothbrush twice a day with just a smear of
low-flouride toothpaste. You should be wary of increasing the amount of toothpaste used, to say a pea-sized amount,
until your child is old enough to spit the toothpaste out rather than swallowing it (probably at about age 2). Swallowing flouride toothpaste
can mean that you child ingests too much flouride, which can have a detrimental affect on teeth. If you have any concerns about your child's teeth
before regular check-ups start, or if no teeth have appeared by 12 months of age, consult your dentist for
advice.
Dental care is not covered by Medicare. If you would like to take your child to a specialist Paediatric Dentist, consult the Yellow Pages® under 'Dentist, Specialty Guide' (paper version) or Paediatric Dentistry (online version).
Flouridation
The water supply in most of Queensland, incluing Brisbane, is not flouridated at the current time. Some areas, such as
Townsville/Thuringowa, Gatton, Biloela, Moranbah, Mareeba and Dalby, do have flouridated water supplies. Consult your local dentist
about the flouridation in your local water supply and for advice about giving flouride supplements to your child.
For more information about development and care of children's teeth, see the online links below:
> Teeth & Teeth Care from the Parenting & Child Health section of the Child & Youth Health, SA website
> Dental Health Tips for Babies & Toddlers from the Australian Dental Association
> info from Colgate Oral Health Center (US based site)
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