HAYS, Kan. – Garden City will be the first of three free hearing screenings, funded by the Kansas Masons, offered again this spring in western Kansas communities by Fort Hays State University.

McPherson will be the second of the three screenings, funded by the Kansas Masons.

The Garden City screening, sponsored by Tyrian Masonic Lodge No. 246, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at Russell Child Development Center, 2735 N. Jennie Barker Road.

The McPherson screening, sponsored by McPherson Masonic Lodge No. 172, will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at McPherson Lodge No. 172, 311 S. Main.

The last hearing screening will be in Sharon Springs. The time, date and actual screening site for the Sharon Springs screening will be announced later.

 “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 continues 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.

“We are in the second semester of our fourth year of free hearing screenings sponsored by the Kansas Masonic grant,” said Beougher. “Our graduates have screened over 750 people in 21 central and western Kansas communities.”

“It is a valuable service with an average of over 60 percent referrals for medical and audiological needs. Our graduate students have also benefitted greatly from this program. Over 80 students have participated to date, each gaining valuable clinical hours necessary for graduation,” she said.

Scheduling appointments is encouraged, 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.

“We are incredibly thankful for the financial support from the Kansas Masonic Foundation, which has helped us take this important free service to individuals in numerous locations in Kansas,” said Beougher.

“The Masons at every lodge we have visited have been so accommodating and eager to do anything they could to help us promote and set up these clinics,” she added.

To schedule an appointment for the Garden City screening, contact Sterling Montgomery at 620-397-1721 or email smontgomerycmi@gmail.com.

To schedule an appointment for the McPherson screening, contact Patrick Carr at 479-549-5058 or carrs@cox.net.

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