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Free hearing screenings offered

Posted Feb 18, 2010 by Beth Gaddis

Updated Feb 25, 2010 at 01:36 PM

As a parent, how many times a day do you say, “Do you hear me?”

Unfortunately, for many kids, the answer may be, “I can’t.”

The Bolesta Center, a Tampa-based nonprofit organization for the hard of hearing, is offering free hearing screenings at the Museum of Science & Industry on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  You do not have to pay for admission to MOSI in order to get the free screening.  It’s part of SoundOn.org, a campaign to raise awareness of medical advancements for the hard of hearing.

A licensed audiologist will administer the free screenings to children six and under.  There will be help available should you find out your child does have a hearing problem.

“We’re going to have people from the Bolesta Center who will be there to sit down with the parent and go through the available options and help them decide if it’s possible for them to get a cochlear implant and can help them get connected with the right doctor,” said Cindy Honickman, co-director for Public Service for Ad 2 Tampa Bay, which is helping to spread the word about the screenings.

A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to those profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing, according to the Bolesta Center Web site. The cost can be covered by Medicaid.

For more information about the screenings, contact Honickman at (352) 425-5543.

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