Hearing loss and Humanitarianism

In many ways, hearing loss is a personal journey – but disabling hearing loss affects 360 million people – over 5% of the population – worldwide.

Some people may think of hearing loss as something that only affects the elderly, but people all over the world, including 32 million children, are affected by hearing loss.

Given the huge numbers of people affected, and the huge disparity in treatment depending on the country you’re living in, numerous people have been inspired to spread the word about how to treat and prevent hearing loss.

As a person affected by hearing loss in the United States, the amount of options when it comes to your hearing aids may seem overwhelming. In fact, the current production of hearing aids only meets approximately 10% of the global need.

Jo Milne, who shot to Internet fame when she was filmed hearing for the first time via a cochlear implant, has used her Youtube success and motivation to help others to bring hearing aids to children in Bangladesh.

Milne was contacted by The Osmonds, a band from Utah that was formed by six brothers hoping to raise money for their deaf older brothers. They had also created a charity, The Hearing Fund UK, and asked Milne to be an ambassador. She then called on them for a favor – funding for a trip to Bangladesh, where she fitted 500 children’s hearing aids in just two days (BBC).

The project was turned into a TV special by the BBC, which allowed Milne’s gift of hearing to inspire not only those she met in Bangladesh, but people all over the globe who wish to promote similar initiatives.

If your experiences with hearing loss have inspired you to make change, there are several opportunities available to put your goodwill into action.

Paige Stringer, the Executive Director of the Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss, who is affected by profound hearing loss and has worn hearing aids since she was 11 years old, was researching Buffalo Tours in 2008 for an article she was writing.

Buffalo Tours set her up with the Thuan An Center for Disabled Children , Vietnam’s largest school for deaf children, where she saw first-hand the similarities and differences in approach from the United States to Vietnam.

Her experiences at the Center inspired her to found her own charity, the Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss, which focuses on helping children who are affected by hearing loss in developing countries through access to resources, such as hearing aids and follow-up support from audiologists, as well as integrated educational programs.

Of the 50 or so specialized schools for the deaf in Vietnam, 35 of those schools are now enrolled in the Foundation’s Vietnam Deaf Education Program.

The charity also supports initiatives such as Mobile Missions and providing innovative new technologies such as Solar powered rechargeable hearing aids for people living in rural communities (Audiology.org).

These phenomenal women are just two examples of the huge array of people working throughout the world to prevent and treat hearing loss.

We hope that you take a little inspiration from these stories and you are encouraged to spread your goodwill as well!