Lions Clubs, Health Wagon partner for free preschooler hearing screenings

WISE – The Health Wagon is partnering with the Lions Club to offer free hearing screenings for preschool-age children in Southwest Virginia. The ListenUp! Preschool Hearing Health Outreach Program, which provides free hearing screenings for children aged 2-5 years, uses Otoacoustic Emissions testing. While most babies receive a hearing screening at birth, hearing loss can develop later, and some children who do not pass their newborn screening may not receive follow-up assistance. ListenUp! helps bridge the screening gap by bringing hearing screenings directly to groups of children in communities across the Commonwealth, supporting earlier identification and access to services when needed. Partnered with the Virginia School of the Deaf and Blind - https://www.vsdb.k12.va.us/page/listenup - this program began in Lions District 24-C in Southwest Virginia and has now expanded to Lions Clubs across the state. While scheduling ListenUp! events will be taking place at area daycares and preschools in the near future, the Health Wagon has agreed to partner with local Lions Clubs to provide set days and times each month for parents to bring their children ages 2-5 to Health Wagon sites. The ListenUp! Lions team members will now be available 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the following locations beginning Oct. 2: -Health Wagon, Wise—First Friday of each month -Health Wagon, Clintwood—Second Friday of each month -Health Wagon, Vansant—Third Friday of each month While no appointment is necessary, a consent form will need to be completed upon arrival. If hearing loss is detected, a follow-up appointment will be made. For more information, visit www.thehealthwagon.org or call 276-328-8850. Donations may be made at www.thehealthwagon.org/donate.