Over 660,000 children throughout the world are born with significantly reduced hearing annually. Children in developing countries with hearing loss often have no chance of receiving medical and audiological care. The consequences of untreated hearing loss are serious: Without good hearing, children experience difficulties in learning the language as well as deficits in development in line with their age group. "Hearing aids allow these children not only to communicate and integrate themselves in society, but also help them to follow lessons better and to achieve their learning potential. That's why the Hear the World Foundation supports needy persons and especially children with hearing loss all over the world", says Lukas Braunschweiler, president of the Hear the World Foundation and CEO of Sonova.
Lasting hearing care assured
Via the "52 Children" project, the Hear the World Foundation enables up to 52 disadvantaged children all over the world to hear better every year. These children not only have their hearing aids fitted at no charge, they also receive lasting and professional follow-up care from a local representative or a partner of the Swiss hearing aid manufacturer, Phonak, in their country of origin after their fitting in Switzerland.
Hearing aids for three girls from Moldova
Three Moldovan girls were supplied with hearing aids in the Neuroth Hearing Centre in St. Gallen/Switzerland on August 4th, 2012. Maria, Irina and Michaela are 11 and 10 years old and come from Cahul in Southern Moldova. Owing to difficult family circumstances, all three girls live in a boarding school. Irina and Maria were both born with hearing loss, Michaela suffered from meningitis (inflammation of the cerebral membrane) as a small child, which caused her to lose her hearing. The girls are presently taking part in a two-week medical camp, organised by the Swiss Foundation swisscor, in the Pestalozzi Children's Village in Trogen/Appenzell.
Global commitment
The Hear the World Foundation was founded by the Swiss hearing aid manufacturer, Phonak, in 2006, with the aim of supporting children with hearing loss globally, in order to allow them to develop in keeping with their age group. The Hear the World Foundation advocates equal opportunities and increased quality of life for people, and especially children, with hearing loss throughout the world. To this end, the foundation involves itself via financial resources and the provision of hearing aids. Notably promoted are projects that support children with hearing loss, in order to allow them to develop in keeping with their age group. For more information about Phonak, please visit www.phonak.com. You can also visit the Phonak web channel on Audiology Online.
Taken from https://www.hear-the-world.com
