by Allison Seidel
The Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at the University of Maryland is offering free hearing screens throughout May to promote healthy hearing.
The department is offering basic tests in LeFrak Hall that tell people the condition of their hearing, said Christina Shields, an assistant clinical professor in the hearing and speech department. The tests will determine whether people need further screening.
Even for those that pass the screenings and don’t need further treatment, Shields said, the events offer an opportunity to educate the public about hearing.
“This may mean informing the community about using hearing protection when in the presence of hazardous noise levels, or hearing aids and how these devices can improve communication,” she explained.
These tests are offered year-round, but the department heavily promotes them during May through social media and events like Maryland Day because of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
During the hearing tests, the staff perform screenings including an air conduction test to evaluate one’s overall hearing and detect if the person has any hearing loss.
“If hearing levels are not within normal limits, a diagnostic evaluation is warranted,” Shields said.
The clinic’s services don’t stop at screenings. It expanded in 2019 to offer cochlear implants, which are devices that help people to hear sound, newborn hearing screenings, and much more.
“We now accept insurance, so we are seeing a more diverse population,” Shields said.
Nicole Nguyen, an associate clinical professor and the director of the clinic explained that they heavily encourage hearing screenings for those who work or engage with loud sounds, but anyone is welcome to them.
“We try to offer the screenings to get people to come in,” she said.
For those that work around “hazardously loud sounds,” the clinic can give pointers on how to protect hearing, Nguyen added.
Alyssa Pasta, a senior hearing and speech science and family science double major at UMD and intern at the clinic said the tests are useful especially if insurance doesn’t cover hearing exams.
“This initiative will spread awareness about our clinic and the field of audiology in general around our campus,” she said. “Very few people know about the clinic, or even that we treat everyone, not just UMD students, faculty, and staff.”
To sign up for a free hearing screening, call 301-405-7455 or email hespclinic@umd.edu.
Featured image: A sign for the Department of Hearing & Speech Sciences is seen. Photo by Emily Condon.