Pediatric Hearing & Vision Screenings

Summit County Public Health provides in-person pediatric hearing and vision screening. Appointments for screening can be made by calling Summit County Public Health at (970) 668-9161. 

Early diagnosis and appropriate intervention is key to normal development. If you are concerned about your child’s hearing or vision, we encourage you to take advantage of our free screenings or connect with an eye care or hearing provider, such as those listed below.

Audiologists (Hearing)

  • Kendra Cooper: 970-331-2174; no office, meets with families at school, free for Summit School District students who qualify
  • Hearing Rehab Center: 970-668-8811; seeing children ages 5 and up, accepts all insurance except Medicaid
  • Northwest Hearing: 970-668-4551; seeing all ages, including newborns, accepts private insurance, Medicaid and CHP+
  • Children’s Hospital: 800-624-6553; audiologists on every campus, accepts private insurance, Medicaid and CHP+

Hearing Resources for Families

Vision Resources for Families

Optometrists and Ophthalmologists (Vision)

  • Blue River Vision, Silverthorne: 970-368-6539; accepts private insurance, Medicaid, CHP+
  • EyeTech Optometry, Frisco: 970-262-9272; accepts private insurance, Medicaid, CHP+
  • Eyes on Breckenridge: 970-453-6910; accepts private insurance only
  • Lake Dillon Eye Care, Dillon: 970-468-0389; accepts private insurance, Medicaid, CHP+
  • Summit Eye Center, Frisco: 970-668-2020; accepts private insurance, Medicaid, and CHP+

Importance of Childhood Hearing and Vision Screening

There are five reasons why early childhood hearing and vision screening are important:

  1. Hearing and vision problems are not uncommon.
  2. Hearing and vision problems can have major impacts on a child’s development, especially in the first years of life.
  3. Early identification and intervention minimize the effects of a hearing or vision deficiency on a child’s development.
  4. Hearing screening is a quick and effective first step in the process of identifying normal hearing or the need for further evaluation.
  5. Hearing and vision screening may identify conditions that require medical attention.

When are Children due for Hearing and Vision screenings? 

Hearing: The AAP recommends a newborn hearing screening, and then children should be screened again at ages 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10. Additional screenings are recommended between ages 11-14, 15-17, and 18-21--or any time there is a concern.

Vision: The AAP recommends that vision screening start around age 3 and occur each year at ages 4, 5, and 6. After that, screening should occur at ages 8, 10, 12, and 15. Additional screenings are recommended anytime there is a concern.