REGION – 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. The 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, insurance covers the cost of the screening.
Our state-trained staff provide 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 grades. 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 homeschooled can also get screened at no cost to the parent. Any family with homeschooled 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.
Parents and guardians who call to make an appointment for their child’s immunizations may also make arrangements for hearing and vision screenings for the same time frame, if a technician is available on their appointment day.
The parent of any child who does not pass the screening is contacted and asked to take the child in for additional testing by a doctor. Approximately 10% of children screened for vision and 5% of children screened for hearing in Michigan are referred to specialists. 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
- Clare County: (989) 539-6731 ext. 1521
- Gladwin County: (989) 426-9431 ext. 13
- Isabella County: (989) 773-5921 ext. 1217
- Osceola County: (231) 832-5532 ext. 1521
- Roscommon County: (989) 366-9166 ext. 1324
