What? You Say It's Time for a Hearing Check?

When my son was just over a year old, I finally gave in to my husband's worrying and made an appointment to have the baby's eyes checked.  Not because I was noticing any problems. It's just that there was this pesky family history of lazy eye, which can be corrected best if it's caught early.  So we went -- and it turns out he was very farsighted. He was in glasses by 16 months. 

If vision screenings for your children are something you've been putting off, procrasticate no longer. Make your appointments now for the free hearing, speech and vision screenings next Saturday, May 15, at the Center for Hearing and Speech in Rock Hill. (Adults can also receive free hearing screenings.) Licensed, certified clinicians will provide the screenings between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. You can schedule your time slot by calling 314-968-4710.

Early diagnosis of vision, speech or hearing problems helps children reach their full potential for learning. There are also social and emotional reasons to check whether they can see and hear properly -- if your child only seems to listen when you yell, it might be because that's when he hears you best.

If the screening shows that further treatment is necessary, the Center for Hearing and Speech, a United Way-funded agency that's been in operation since 1920 , can follow up with you regardless of your ability to pay.

By Amy De La Hunt, Health Blogger for SmartParenting