No Cost Speech and Hearing Services to Communities in Need.

We work with organizations and individuals both domestically and internationally to bring speech and hearing support to communities who would otherwise not be able to receive specialized medical care. Not only do we perform hearing tests, speech therapy, and fit hearing aids; we also train local hearing professionals on the latest techniques so that they can continue to give their patients top of the line care.

  • Hearing Tests
  • Fit and Program Hearing Aids
  • Cochlear Implant Mapping and Evaluations
  • Auditory Processing Disorder Evaluations
  • Feeding, Swallowing, Voice, and Resonance Disorder Evaluations
  • Speech, Language, Memory, and Attention Disorder Evaluations
  • Language Delay Evaluations
Get Support

The social cost of hearing loss.

Based on data from the World Health Organization, unaddressed hearing loss poses an annual cost of over $980 billion worldwide. This includes costs related to health care, education, productivity losses, and societal costs. WHO estimates that 50% of hearing loss can be prevented through public health measures. (Source)

Hearing loss and speech difficulties are often stigmatized, highly treatable conditions that affect people of all ages. These unique challenges can lead to lower quality of life, less educational attainment and economic independence, as well as increased risk for cognitive deficiencies for those experiencing the condition. Due to a lack of resources, hearing loss and speech difficulties disproportionately affect people in lower income areas.

In children, nearly 60% of hearing loss is due to avoidable causes that can be prevented through implementation of public health measures. – World Health Organization

The majority of people with hearing loss are faced with a lack of financial and educational resources.

The past few decades have seen game-changing advances in the field of hearing technology, diagnostics, and telemedicine. We are able to identify ear diseases and hearing loss at any age and in any setting. We are facing not a shortage of treatment options, but a shortage of access to those options. A wide range of available treatments remain out of reach for many. These include:

  • Medical and surgical management
  • Hearing aids
  • Cochlear implants
  • Rehabilitative therapy
  • Sign language
  • Captioning
  • Strengthening the brain-ear connection

The negative impact of hearing loss can be mitigated through community education and support.

After studying the relationship between social support and the health of people experiencing hearing loss, the NIH concluded: “Just as hearing loss may shape one’s social world, the social environment may in turn influence individuals’ experiences with hearing loss. Additionally, one’s response to rehabilitation after the introduction of a hearing assistance device is closely related to social support.” (Source)

“With access to health care, rehabilitation and technology, people with disabling hearing loss can participate equally in education, employment and their communities. Hearing loss doesn’t keep them from reaching their full potential: poverty and discrimination do.”

– Malala Yousafzai

DONATE

Hearing loss affects: communication, cognition, education, employment, mental health, and interpersonal relationships. 

We educate communities on risk factors for developing hearing loss and how to reduce common environmental determinants. Effective strategies for reducing hearing loss course include: 

  • immunization
  • good maternal and childcare practices  
  • genetic counselling 
  • identification and management of common ear conditions
  • occupational noise and chemical exposure education
  • safe listening strategies for the reduction of exposure to loud sounds in recreational settings 
  • rational use of medicines to prevent ototoxic hearing loss