Frequently Asked Questions
Regular Open Clinics are available at our facility located at 311 East Alcott St. If you are concerned about your child's vision or hearing, call 269-373-5198 to schedule an appointment.
No. The hearing and vision screenings are FREE.
The individuals who conduct the screenings are called Public Health Technicians. All Public Health Technicians complete a Michigan Department of Health & Human Services Hearing or Vision Screening Technician Training Course. To maintain their excellent screening skills, they attend an annual MDHHS Skills Workshop. They are a dedicated staff who provide Hearing and Vision screening to over 40,000 children each school year.
Hearing and Vision screening is REQUIRED for kindergarten entrance in Kalamazoo County schools. Daily clinics are provided during the summer at various locations throughout Kalamazoo County. Call 269-373-5198 to schedule an appointment.
- Children in grades K, 2 and 4 receive Hearing Screening.
- Children in grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 receive Vision Screening.
A calibrated pure tone audiometer is used. Tones are presented through headphones.
An age appropriate vision screening instrument is used to screen for eye muscle imbalance and clearness of vision.
You will be notified by the Hearing and Vision Office only if your child does not pass the screening.
- Does your child have a history of earaches or drainage from the ears?
- Does your child want the television or radio louder?
- Does your child often ask you or others to repeat questions?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, contact the Hearing and Vision Program at 269-373-5198 to schedule an appointment.
It is not always easy to tell. Many young children do not realize there is a problem; they think everyone sees that way. Some signs to look for:
- Does your child squint or tilt the head to see?
- When your child is ill or tired, do the eyes appear crossed or does one eye wander when looking at an object?
- Does your child move hesitantly or walk close to the wall?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, contact the Hearing and Vision Program at 269-373-5198 to schedule an appointment.
Yes, Public Health Code Act 368 of 1978 Part 93 addresses the law for Hearing and Vision programs. You can read the full law here.
Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services is committed to providing equitable, culturally competent care to all individuals served, regardless of race, age, sex, color, national origin, religion, height, weight, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
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