The Starkey Hearing Mission will outfit persons who qualify for free hearing aids at the Phillip Marcellin grounds in Vieux Fort, on Jan. 17 and 18.

The organization is hoping to fit at least 600 people with hearing aids.

To obtain a free hearing aid, persons must first visit the Vieux Fort Wellness Centre or the Entrepot Health Centre to be screened. Nurses and health workers are urging everyone, even those who think they may have hearing loss, to visit the wellness centres for assessment.

“There is no age limit,” Audiology Specialist with the Ministry of Health, Nurse Practitioner Diana King-Dornelly, said. “Anyone who has hearing loss can be fitted with a hearing aid. People may have hearing loss that they are not aware of, and children can suffer from hearing loss as well as older adults. So we’re urging everyone to come in to be screened.”

The foundation will be providing free, custom-fit hearing aids, as well as a lifetime supply of batteries and aftercare support.

The deadline for screening is Jan. 16.