OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa, will demonstrate through interim study testimony that Oklahoma's attempt to teach children to read is being significantly thwarted by a lack of comprehensive hearing/auditory screening in schools.
The interim study, titled Prevalence of Auditory Issues in School Age Children and How It Affects Reading at Grade Level and Learning, is set for 1pm to 3:30pm Thursday, October 3rd, at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Room 206.
The material presented will include the results of research conducted over the last two years in Oklahoma by Dr. Jacqueline R. Scholl, pediatric audiologist, who tested children in urban and rural schools for hearing and auditory issues. The research was conducted in conjunction with Oklahoma State University's School of Communications Science and Disorders.
The research showed that of the children tested, 25% were found to have some level of hearing or auditory issue. Of those identified, some issues were the prevalence of middle ear fluid which can periodically affect hearing, but others were problematic enough to negatively affect reading at grade level and overall academic and classroom achievement.
"If kiddos can't either hear well or process what sounds go from the ear to the brain, they will struggle learning to read, no matter how much you try to teach them, pour money into reading programs or spend hours reading to them," Blancett said. "We've got to do everything necessary to raise our current poor performance scores for reading at grade level. If kids can't read they can't learn and progress, which will affect them for a lifetime. This is critical to having an educated workforce."
Only 24% of Oklahoma 4th graders in 2022 were at or above proficient in reading, according to the Nation's Report Card (NationsReportCard.gov). Overall, Oklahoma ranks 49th out of 50 states in performance in standardized test scores and graduation rates (U.S. News & World Report's 2024 review).
The interim study will include personal parental testimony about how a lack of screening has profoundly affected her child. Moreover, it will provide details on the screening methodologies used in the research, which present the most effective and cost efficient methodology for potential use in schools, and how Edmond Public Schools has approached improving hearing screening and hearing in its classrooms.
Oklahoma is one of 10 states that do not require hearing screening in schools.