The national awards competition, sponsored by Oticon, Inc., one of the world's oldest and most respected hearing aid manufacturers, celebrated the accomplishments of first place winners: Wyatt Spencer of Corning, CA, Adam Brownfeld of Bronx, NY, Michelle Tjelmeland of Springfield, IL, and Brenda Battat of Bethesda, MD. A special award recognizing the critical role of hearing care professionals in improving the world of hearing impaired people was presented to Eleni Boston of Willamette Education Service District in Salem, OR.
Now in its eighth year, the Oticon Focus on People Awards program is designed to focus attention on common misconceptions about hearing loss, correct negative stereotypes and motivate people with hearing loss to take advantage of the help that is available to them.
"Oticon created the Focus on People Awards to show the world that hearing loss does not diminish a person's ability to live life to its fullest and most productive," explained Oticon President Mikael Worning. "Most importantly, we want to encourage those with hearing loss to seek professional guidance and take advantage of the new technologies and procedures that enable them to live the life they want with the hearing they have."
Selected from over 200 nominees, a total of 15 winners earned first, second or third place honors in one of the program's five categories: Youth (children, ages 5-12), Student (full-time students, ages 13-25), Adult (age 18 and over), Advocacy (individuals of all ages involved in advocacy for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community) and Practitioner (for hearing care professionals currently in practice).
This year, the Oticon also presented a special award in tribute to the late Poul Erik Lyregaard, former head of development for Oticon. Lyregaard earned international recognition for his extensive work and research and has been credited with helping to create the foundation for the way hearing aids are fit today.
David Hawkins, PhD, professor of Audiology at the Mayo Medical Clinic and Head of the Audiology Department of the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, was presented with the Poul Erik Lyregaard Hearing Aid Research Award. Dr. Hawkins was praised for his more than 20 years of work as a clinician, teacher and researcher. "Beginning in the 1980's, David demonstrated through his words and work that the field of hearing aid fitting could and should be treated as a serious scientific endeavor," stated Oticon Vice President of Audiology and Professional Relations Donald Schum, Ph.D./CCC-A. "He is among a select few who ushered in a new level of focus on the importance of careful, evidence-based clinical service."
Blue Ribbon Judging Panel
The winners were selected by independent judging committee composed of leading hearing care professionals. This year's program judges included: Jack Adams, M.S., CCC-A of Audiology Consultants in Cape Coral, Florida; David Dodero, Au.D, CCC-A of Dodero Hearing Center in Santa Barbara, CA ; Leslie E. Herman, M.S., CCC-A of Summit Hearing Center in Summit, NJ; Kurt Pfaff, Au.D of Hearing Care Specialists Ltd. in Minneapolis, MN; and Ellen Simon, M.S., CCC-A of Hear Center in Encino, CA.
About Oticon
Oticon is one of the world's oldest and most respected hearing aid manufacturers. The company was founded in Copenhagen in 1904 by Hans Demant, inspired by a desire to help his hearing impaired wife and others like her. Today, Oticon is located in over 100 countries, providing quality, state-of-the-art hearing instruments to people worldwide. A pioneer in digital technology, Oticon continues to develop and manufacture the newest, most technologically advanced hearing instruments to help people with hearing loss "live the lives they want, with the hearing they have." The company's commitment to put People First in designing quality hearing care solutions is made stronger through partnership with dedicated and caring hearing care professionals in countries around the world.
For more information about the Oticon Focus on People Award and hearing health, log on to oticonusa.com.
2005 Oticon Focus on People Category Winners
Youth Category Winner, Wyatt Spencer of Corning, CA
Seven-year-old Wyatt, born with bilateral, mild to moderate hearing loss, has no intention of letting anything in life slow him down. This hard-riding cow poke earned a silver buckle in the Mutton Busting event at the Corning Junior Rodeo competition. Along with his faithful pony, Trigger, Wyatt participates in his hometown's "Cattle Days", roping in prizes and the hearts of his community as he proudly displays his colorful hearing aids for all to see.
Student Winner, Adam Brownfeld of Bronx, NY
Twenty-one-year-old Adam is currently completing his Bachelor of Science degree at Rochester Institute of Technology. Born with a profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, Adam plans to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical or industrial/organizational psychology, a career goal that places him in an elite group of hearing impaired individuals who choose to function in the mainstream with high level professional qualifications. Adam is already contributing to a scholarly body of knowledge about deafness in research areas traditionally conducted by hearing people. He has a keen interest in knowing more about his own hearing impairment and expanding the world's understanding of hearing loss.
Adult Category Winner, Michelle Tjelmeland of Springfield, IL
Michelle, who is profoundly deaf, has been called "an example of positive attitude and fortitude, displayed with a keen sense of humor." Mother of Ellie, age 7, who is also deaf, and Lucy, age 4, Michelle channeled her energies into creating a successful Web development and consulting firm, e-websmart. She is winner of numerous awards including Small Business Owner of the Year by the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, the Golden Web Award by the International Association of Web Masters & Designers and the "40 under 40 Award" by the Springfield Business Journal. Through her website iloveellie.com, Michelle shares her experiences with hearing loss as an individual and mother.
Advocacy Category Winner, Brenda Battat of Bethesda, MD
Despite a hereditary hearing loss, Brenda's most significant achievements have occurred in advocacy, a field requiring outstanding communication skills. Her efforts have directly and indirectly impacted legislation and regulations that govern such essential areas as telecommunications accessibility, community accessibility and healthcare coverage for life changing technology including hearing aids and cochlear implants. Brenda has worked collaboratively with every major national group related to hearing loss and has brought together consumers, professionals and corporations to effect positive and far-reaching change for people with hearing loss.
Practitioner Category Winner, Eleni Boston of Salem, OR
One sentiment echoed by the many professionals who nominated Eleni for this award was their inability to capture the full scope of all that she has given to children and families in her 27 years of service. Praised for her knowledge in all areas of education and technological developments, it is her everyday interactions with people that truly distinguish her as a role model for all. To quote one of her colleagues: "Eleni never fails to look beyond what is -- to see what can be." This is the gift Eleni gives consistently to her students, their families and the entire hearing impaired community.
Ten Second and Third Place Winners
The Oticon Focus on People Awards also recognized second and third place winners in each category.
Second place winners were: Poul-Erik Transø of Boscobel, WI (Practitioner), Stacy Ridgeway of Louisville, KY (Advocacy), Denise Kapsa of South Bend, IN (Adult), Michael Sullivan of Woodhaven, NY (Student) and Sonjay Sivarajah of
Lino Lakes, MN (Youth).
Third place winners were Deborah Price, AuD of Dallas, TX (Practitioner), Sandra Clark of South Glens Falls, NY (Advocacy), Senator Charles Lemmond of Harrisburg, PA (Adult), Rahul Rajagopalan of
Ellicott City, MD (Student) and Reede Fisher of Salem, OR (Youth).
