In the spirit of sharing what is being done out there in the world of hearing, and some of the hearos that are busy making a difference, here is a sampling of some of their work, their stories and links to their sites.
Founded in 2006 by Sonova Group, the Hear the World Foundation supports projects around the world enabling children with hearing loss to develop appropriate to their age. The foundation focuses on projects in low- to middle-income countries which give children with hearing loss access to audiological care. To this end, the non-profit Swiss foundation provides funding, hearing technology as well as on-site expertise to train local professionals. The expertise is provided by Sonova Group employees who work on a voluntary basis for the foundation.
Learn more at https://www.hear-the-world.com/
Over the past 40 years, Starkey Hearing Foundation has brought the gift of hearing to nearly 1.5 million people around the globe, inspired by co-founders Bill and Tani Austin’s drive toward sustainable community-based hearing healthcare and supported by many generous donors. Our model is built upon Starkey Hearing Foundation’s legacy of international hearing missions. During these missions in more than 100 countries, we helped people hear through testing, fittings, and hearing aid donations, but we also built long-term self-reliance by providing training and education to local professionals on hearing, hearing loss and hearing aids. We’ve trained hearing healthcare professionals and developed programs in 70 countries through our unique combination of knowledge and skill, creating the Wide Frequency Audibility® Community-Based Hearing Healthcare Model.
Learn more at https://www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org/
EARS Inc. is an Australian, not-for-profit organisation which helps people hear in low and middle income countries (LMIC). For over 20 years, EARS Inc. has trained and equipped individuals and agencies in several LMIC to provide sustainable hearing healthcare. Our vision is for deaf and hearing-impaired people in LMIC to have access to the hearing services they need to help them to become self-sufficient and achieve their potential. We serve and empower people, irrespective of nationality, race, gender or religion, while showing the love of Jesus through our words and actions.
Learn more at https://www.earsinc.org/
The impacts of hearing loss are broad and can be profound. They include a loss of the ability to communicate with others delayed language development in children, which can lead to social isolation, loneliness and frustration, particularly among older people with hearing loss. Many areas lack sufficient accommodations for hearing loss, which effect academic performance and options for employment. Children with hearing loss and deafness in developing countries rarely receive any schooling. WHO estimates that unaddressed hearing loss costs the global economy US$ 980 billion annually due to health sector costs (excluding the cost of hearing devices), costs of educational support, loss of productivity and societal costs.
Learn more at https://www.who.int/health-topics/hearing-loss