The Ironton and Lawrence County Health Departments are hosting a free hearing clinic next Thursday. The clinic is open to children under the age of 21.

“Last year we only had nine people so we’d like to have a nice showing,” Laura Brown, Ironton Health Commissioner, said.

The health departments host such hearing clinics four times each year during which an audiologist and a physician from the Ohio Department of Health does screenings.

The ODH also does similar vision screenings. Attendance at both clinics has been down recently.

“If they keep declining they’re going to quit coming,” Brown said, adding that the physician and audiologist are volunteering their time to come. “It’s kind of a really nice clinic.”

Parents should consider a screening if they have noticed any decline in the child’s hearing or if the child is not hearing certain sounds.

“I think sometimes the moms pick it up quicker than anybody,” she said. “Sometimes children will complain that they can’t hear and we can check that out too.”

The hearing clinic will be 1-3:30 p.m. Thursday April 15 at the health departments, which share a building at 2120 S Eighth St. in Ironton.

Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Appoints must be made in advance by calling the Lawrence County Health Department at 532-3962 or the Ironton Health Department by calling 532-2172.