Hearing tests offered at pancake breakfast

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

People who come to the Lion's Club Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 12, will be able to get a free hearing screening test as well as the club's pancakes and sausages.

As part of the Lion's Clubs International Foundation the local club will have a machine available to give area residents a test to see if they need hearing aids.

"This is a great way to help people," Sue Quitno, Lion's Club president, said. "We wanted to provide a service directly to people and be more than a source of money. It's nice to be able to fund a project but it's even better to be able to see our actions help someone, it gives you a great feeling."

A new program in which the Nevada Lion's Club now participates provides hearing aids to people who qualify through the Lions' Clubs International Foundation.

The foundation supplies the Lions with digital hearing aids for $90 each plus expenses such as shipping and insurance.

"These hearing aids were designed and produced by the company that make cochlear implants," Quitno said. "The Lions' Clubs International Foundation provided more than a million dollars to help get the aids designed."

The club goes through a local audiologist or hearing aid dealer for fitting the hearing aid to the person who needs it.

The hearing aid needs to physically fit the ear and it also needs to be programmed to a person's individual needs. Each case is different, but such service typically costs approximately $200.

"By the time you add every thing together, and in each case costs will be different, it comes to between $300 and $500," Quitno said. "For hearing aids of this quality that is quite a savings."

The club also works with other clubs and organizations to find help for someone who needs it.

Recently, the club was contacted for help and in conjunction with Vocational Rehabilitation provided hearing aids to help a woman get a class B commercial driver's license.

"We didn't provide funds in this case, we just helped her get to the right organization that did," Quitno said. "It was a great chance to work with others, to know that if we needed their help other groups would lend a hand."

The breakfast is at the City/County Community Center in Nevada, 7-11:30 p.m., Feb. 12.