Children get free hearing and speech screenings - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS
By Wendy Suares - bio | email | twitter
JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - Hearing loss is one of the most common birth defects. Children from birth to 6 years old were offered free hearing screenings Tuesday at Magnolia Speech School in Jackson.
Children between 3 and 6 years old also received speech and language screenings. Organizers say early screenings can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in special education costs.
"It's a tough pill to swallow when you've got a 2 year old that's not talking like they should be, and mommy and daddy are thinking they'll talk when they want to talk," said Julie Crump. "But to be able to identify it early on and get the problems fixed... in the end saves everybody a whole lot of money."
Magnolia Speech School teaches deaf children to use the spoken word instead of using sign language, so that they may enter mainstream society without using an interpreter.
The school hosts the screenings annually as part of Better Hearing and Speech month. For more information call Magnolia Speech School at (601) 922-5530.
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