Diagnostician urges others to take advantage of free hearing screenings
Kate Tipton
Each year, as a part of Better Speech and Hearing Month, the audiologists at T.H. Rogers offer all HISD employees a free hearing screening during the month of May.
Last year, Kate Tipton took advantage of that opportunity—and she received free hearing aids from the State of Texas as a result.
“After years of asking people to repeat things or missing out on information at large meetings, I decided to take charge,” explained Tipton, who serves as the lead educational diagnostician in HISD’s Child Study department. “I was able to get in right away and was given the results right after the testing.”
After confirming that she had a hearing deficit, Tipton was given a list of doctors and the contact information for the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), which offers free and reduced-cost hearing aids for people who need to hear as a part of their jobs.
“I obtained my hearing aids and all the supplies that go with it for free, including the storage box to sanitize them at night and an alarm clock that flashes a light to wake me up in the morning,” said Tipton They will also provide new aids when needed. This saved me at least $6,000.”
Now, Tipton encourages other employees to take advantage of the free screenings, saying, “I only wish I had done it sooner.”
Interested employees may call 713-917-3575 to schedule a screening. Please note that this offer does not extend to spouses or children.
