Photo By Master Sgt. Tyrone Marshall | Pfc. Joshua Hatten, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 25th Combat Aviation...... read more read more
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WHEEEER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii – In the classroom-based learning environment, hearing is vital to the academic success of any student, regardless of their age, gender or grade-level.
The Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, teamed with various chapters of the Lions Club, to help combat the potential impacts of hearing loss for students in the Mililani area, March 13.
The "War Eagles" of HHC, CAB, were joined by volunteers from the Mililani, Central Oahu and Kapolei Lions Clubs to conduct screenings for second graders from Mililani Waena Elementary School.
"The purpose of the screening was to identify potential hearing loss," said Shannon Ching, district governor, Mililani Lions Club. "Either medical type problems or education being impacted by significant hearing loss."
According to Ching, when the state discontinued its hearing screening program, the concerned Lions Clubs decided to take action to help prevent hearing loss.
"We used to have a vision and hearing screening program, but the state discontinued it in 1995," said Ching. "Since then we haven't had a major state-wide project other than when we did vision and hearing screening in some schools. So I thought we'd [re-introduce] screening for school-aged children starting this year, focusing on ages six to eight, grades first through third. We can get into kindergarten, but because it's so new and we're training people, we want to do older kids first to become more proficient."
Berta Jenkins, a member of the Mililani Lions Club, and a former principal at Mililani Waena Elementary, shared how the screenings are coordinated with local schools.
"For the Mililani area, what the Mililani Lions have done is contact all the public schools in our area, and scheduled the hearing screenings. When Shannon mentioned the educational impact, we know that so much of our education is delivered verbally so we want to make sure the kids can hear so they can learn."
She also credited parent network coordinators for assisting with school coordination and mentioned that the program is statewide and not limited to public school. Screenings are conducted at private schools also.
During the Lions Club members and Soldiers recent visit to Mililani Waena Elementary School, they conducted hearing screening for about 90 children.
Maj. Brandon Havron, brigade fire support officer, 25th CAB, discussed his first experience with the screening program.
"This is actually my first time participating in this type of event, and it was a very rewarding experience," he said. "It is always great to be around young children. I have children of my own so I love to be around kids and checking out their hearing and being able to assist was just really great."
Havron also mentioned that the screening is not in-depth testing but rather a reference to help diagnose any potential hearing issues for the children.
"This screens the hearing initially, to see if there is a possible hearing problem. It is not an in-depth test to definitively test all levels of the hearing. It is a generic test to see if there is any additional testing needed."
Overall, feedback from the "War Eagles" of HHC, CAB and Lions Club members alike seemed to indicate the children enjoyed the experience and both groups look forward to the next screening session.
"The children reacted to the Soldiers, as well as the Lions Club members, in a very positive manner," concluded Havron. "They were happy to be here and very thankful and polite young children. It was a great morning all together, and I would like to thank the Mililani Waena Elementary School and the Lions Club for letting us help out."
| Date Taken: | 03.13.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.24.2009 17:51 |
| Story ID: | 31562 |
| Location: | WHEELER ARMY AIR FIELD, US |
| Web Views: | 317 |
| Downloads: | 273 |
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