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Hearing Laughter, Seeing Smiles.

Hearing Laughter, Seeing Smiles.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) offers FREE Hearing and Vision screenings for all Michigan children through your Local Health Department. Screenings are conducted in public, private, and charter schools as well as in preschools, large childcare centers, Head Start programs, and by appointment at your local health department.

The Hearing and Vision programs were first legislated in 1949 and over 1 million children are screened each year. Michigan’s Public Health Code requires screenings during the preschool years (ages 3 to 5) and again prior to entering kindergarten. The FREE screenings continue upon school entry.

About the Programs

Hearing Screening
Vision Screening
Parent Information
Health Care Providers
Hearing and Vision Links
75th Celebration

Our Commitment to Michigan’s Children 

MDHHS and your local health department are committed to screening all Michigan children for hearing and vision to ensure they have the skills necessary to learn and succeed in school and throughout life. 

Local Health Department Screening Services 

  • Children don’t always know if they can hear and see properly 
  • An undiagnosed hearing and vision problem may interfere with physical, academic and social/emotional development 
  • Early detection and treatment can prevent hearing and vision problems 
  • Over 1M children are screened annually with 88,000 referrals to either physicians (hearing) or eye care professionals (vision) for follow-up care 
  • Approximately 10% of children screened for vision and 5% of children screened for hearing are referred in a typical year 
  • The average cost to the State is approximately $5.25 per child 
  • Screenings are conducted by State-trained hearing and vision technicians 
  • Both programs are carefully standardized, so each child receives consistent screening, referral, and follow-up services

Screenings are FREE of charge through your local health department for children in: 

  • preschool (ages 3-5) 
  • children entering kindergarten 
  • school-age children 
  • hearing (grades K, 2, and 4) 
  • vision (grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 or in conjunction with driver’s training) 

If your child is not enrolled in formal school setting, contact your local health department for an appointment for a FREE screening.

Contact your Local Health Department Here 
Local Health Department Map (michigan.gov)