The Lions Clubs of Virginia 24-C have officially launched the “Listen Up” Preschool Hearing Health Outreach Program, which provides free hearing and vision screening to preschools, daycares, homeschool co-ops, and other early childhood education groups. Every volunteer has completed in-person, hands-on OAE (otoacoustic emissions) training through a partnership with the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind.
Jean Cook of Wytheville, VA, is the program founder and lead champion. She has been an active member of the Lions Club since 2009 and learned about the issues of the late-identified hearing loss when parent-advocate, educator, and author, Valerie James Abbott (Richmond, VA) came to speak at the 2023 Virginia Lions Club Convention in Bristol, VA.
“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 many 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 2-5 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,
