ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – The Lions of Virginia District 24-C has launched a groundbreaking initiative to improve access to hearing screening for children ages two to five.
Jean Cook, the Council Chair of the district, joins us on Here @ Home to discuss the “Listen Up! Preschool Hearing Health Program.”
Cook explains, “Lions have played a vital part in the hearing and vision screening of K-12 students for many years. After learning about the prevalence of postnatal hearing loss and the gap in screening between birth and school enrollment, several Lion Club members saw a unique opportunity to serve the youngest members of our communities in a new way,” said Cook.
“We now have a robust team of trained volunteers eager to help identify young children who may benefit from an in-depth hearing evaluation by an audiologist. If we can help prevent speech and language delays by identifying children with possible hearing loss with objective screening technology while they are enrolled in preschool or daycare, we want to be part of that solution.”
At this time, free screening is available for preschools and daycares serving children ages two to five in the following areas: Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Bristol, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Henry, Lee, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, Roanoke, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, Wythe, and the independent cities of Bristol, Galax, Martinsville, Norton, Radford, Roanoke City, and Salem.
The plan to expand to other areas of Virginia in 2026 will be announced at the Lions of Virginia State Convention in Williamsburg, May 2-3, 2025.
Preschool and daycare directors can now submit requests for free screening online through the Listen Up! Page on the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind Website:
Questions about the program can be sent to [email protected].
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