Hearing and vision screening offered by local health departments for School-Aged Children
10/5/2021 10:46:00 AM - Public Relations

To: Local News Media

From: Central Michigan District Health Department (CMDHD)

RE: Hearing and Vision Screening Offered Year-Round for Preschool – 9th Graders

Release Date: Immediately (October 1, 2021)

HEARING AND VISION SCREENING OFFERED BY LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS FOR SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN

Good vision and having the ability to hear are two important elements in helping a child succeed. Make sure

your child gets their eyes and ears checked.

Clearness of vision, eye muscle balance, nearsightedness and farsightedness are tests offered during a vision

screening through Central Michigan District Health Department. Hearing screenings have often been helpful in

identifying hearing loss and providing assistance in finding the appropriate medical referrals if further testing is

needed. 1The Health Department offers both screenings to children during the school year at no cost to parents.

For children 3 through 6 years of age with Medicaid coverage, your insurance covers the cost of the screening.

Our state trained staff provides vision screening services to children in preschool and in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th,

and 9th grades. Hearing screening is done for preschool children and those in kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grade.

Preschoolers are screened in larger daycares, Head Start centers, or during kindergarten round ups. Students

are screened throughout the school year as our technicians visit each school district. Other children may be

screened at the request of a teacher or parent. Screening may also be offered at our health department clinics

by appointment if needed.

All children who are being home schooled can also get screened at no cost to the parent. Any family with

home schooled children can call the local health department branch office in their county and ask to make an

appointment for hearing and vision screening. Appointments are available during the summer months as well.

Keep in mind that if a child is coming to the health department for immunizations that they could also make

arrangements for hearing and vision screenings at that time pending we have a technician available and not in

a school that day.

The parent of any child that does not pass the screening is contacted and asked to take the child in for more

testing by a doctor. Approximately 10% of children screened for vision and 5% of children screened for hearing

in Michigan are referred to specialists.1 Referrals to community services for assistance are also available. For

more information or to set up a screening appointment for eligible school age children please call:

Arenac County: (989) 846-6541 ext. 1324

Isabella County: (989) 773-5921 ext. 1217

Clare County: (989) 539-6731 ext. 1521

Osceola County: (231) 832-5532 ext. 1521

Gladwin County: (989) 426-9431 ext. 1324

Roscommon County: (989) 366-9166 ext. 1324

This article has been brought to you by Central Michigan District Health Department, which serves the

counties of Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Osceola, and Roscommon. Visit our website at www.cmdhd.org,

LIKE Central Michigan District Health Department on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @CMiDHD.

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1Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Hearing and Vision Screening Programs

http://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-73971_4911_4912-260177--,00.html

To request an interview, please visit our website (cmdhd.org) and fill out the Media Interview Request Form.