09/06/19
HAYS, Kan. – Russell will be the first of three free hearing screenings, funded by the Kansas Masons, offered again this fall in Western Kansas communities by Fort Hays State University.

“The FHSU Herndon Clinic in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is very fortunate to have received a large grant from the Kansas Masons to support adult speech, language and hearing services in Western Kansas,” said Marcy Beougher, speech-language pathologist and an instructor in the department.

The grant is continuing to provide numerous opportunities for individuals of all ages in western Kansas to receive important health screening services that are currently scarce or difficult to access.

“With Masonic support and funding, we have visited 18 different communities in three years and have screened over 670 people,” said Beougher.

“We are thankful to the Masons for the opportunity to learn more about the hearing needs in Western Kansas and to make necessary and important medical and audiological referrals. We are also very grateful for the clinical hours these screenings provide for our graduate students.”

The screening will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sep. 20, at the Russell Masonic Lodge No. 177, 115 E. Wisconsin, Russell.

Appointments are encouraged to be scheduled ahead of time, but walk-ins will be welcomed on a first-come, first-served basis. Each site will have four stations, with each screening lasting approximately 15 minutes. Results, follow-up information and ear plugs will also be provided. There will be no hearing aid sales

Screenings are provided by graduate students from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Beougher will organize the screenings.

Screenings will also be held in Sterling on Oct. 18 and Plainville on Oct. 25. Times, dates and actual screening sites will be announced later.

To schedule an appointment for the Russell screening, contact Daron Woelk at 785-483-7873 or dwoelk@hotmail.com

For more information, visit fhsu.edu/herndon-clinic/ or contact the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at 785-628-5366.