Lions to test

Lions to test

kids' hearing

By BOB SCOTT

Rappahannock Neva Contributing Writcr

For many years, March has brought a familiar sight to Rappahannock County—the brightly colored Mobile Sight and Hearing Screening Van operated by the Li“ ons Clubs of Virginia.

The unit provides free vision and hearing tests to all the children in the county’s schools; all the testing is free. It is equipped with a soundproof booth for hearing testing as well as the latest vision-testing equipment.

The van will be at Wakefield Country Day School in Huntly from 9 a.m. until noon on Monday, March 16; at noon the operation will move to the Rappahannock Elementary School where students will be screened starting at 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Testing will continue at the elementary school from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. the next day, Tuesday, March 17.

On Wednesday, March 18, the van will move to the Rappahannock High School, where students will be screened from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Lions Club spokesman Bob Anderson, who is organizing the van’s visit this year, emphasized that there is no charge for the tests. The costs of operating the mobile screening unit are borne by the Lions Clubs of District 24-A. He explained that the proceeds from community projects such as the Rappahannock club’s annual auction, apple butter sales, light bulb drives, fruitcake and nut Mies are contributed toward making this service available to the students of Rappahannock County, as well as the rest of Northern Virginia District.

Parents whose children are found to have suspected hearing or vision problems through the screening unit will be notified by the school administration, Mr. Anderson said. The parents are then responsible for any farther diagnostic testing or correction of the problem.

Parents who wish additional information about the screening program should call their child’s school, or Bob Anderson (987-8206), Mike Maasie (675-3637), or Kermit Weakley (675-3246).

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