MONROE COUNTY, Mich. — The start of the school year is around the corner and in Ohio and Michigan, children must be tested for hearing and vision.
In Monroe County, it is being offered for free through August right before school to make sure all kids can get tested.
Brooke Fender, a hearing and vision coordinator with the Monroe County Health Department, said these tests are crucial for children.
"A child may not know that they can't hear the same as their peers and without having a vision screen, a child may not know that they are seeing to their fullest potential," Fender said.
In 2023, MCHD provided over 18,000 tests free of charge. Leaders said the new equipment is more advanced than the previous equipment.
"It is equipment that is accessible to the students who may have a disability, they're non-verbal, or just unable to have a standardized screening we usually conduct in the schools," Fender said.
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, about two to three children out of every 1000 born have a detectable level of hearing loss. According to Fender, this makes it essential to get tested.
If you live in Monroe County and need to get your children tested for hearing and vision, call the Monroe County Health Department at 734-240-7856. They are located at 2353 S. Custer Road in Monroe.
To learn more about the free vision and hearing testing, click here.
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