Somerset, NJ March 24 - At this year's OtiCongress held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, more than 100 US hearing professionals took their "knowledge sharing" beyond the OtiCongress workshops and seminars to benefit children in need at the Mutualidad Argentina de Hipoacusicos (MAH). Working side-by-side with audiologists from the non-profit organization, the US volunteers fit over 100 needy children with hearing instruments donated by Oticon, Inc.
"Participants at OtiCongress sessions know that they will come away with the latest knowledge, research and practical techniques for building their practices," stated Oticon President Peer Lauritsen. "This year, they also came away with a better understanding of how valuable their services can be to people in need. This joint US-Argentinean humanitarian effort showed that the commitment to making a difference in the lives of people with hearing loss knows no borders."
Partnership for Good - Horacio Cristiani, Director of the Argentinean non-profit group Mutualidad Argentina de Hipoacusicos (MAH) ( left), joins Peer Lauritsen, President of Oticon, Inc.(center) at a special clinic for children in need during the recent 2008 OtiCongress in Buenos Aires. Lauritsen and over 100 volunteers made up of Oticon staff and OtiCongress participants donated their time to fit more than 100 needy children with 132 hearing instruments donated by Oticon. The smiles of Lucas Juarez (second from left) and María Teresa Peralta, MAH's Assistant Head of Children's Audiology (right), show that the contributions of the volunteers were well received.
Oticon, Inc. donated 162 hearing instruments and a supply of batteries to the Mutualidad Argentina de Hipoacusicos, Buenos Aires, which were provided to children from the School of Special Education Nº 502 in Merlo and the Municipal School for Deaf Children "Dr. Ramón Carrillo" in Haedo during a clinic session on March 1. Despite heavy rains, the US volunteers, Oticon staff and MAH audiologists worked throughout the day to insure that each of the 100 children received individual care and attention. Over half of the children were fitted binaurally. MAH audiologists employed their bilingual skills to facilitate communications among the US hearing care professionals, the children, their parents and staff from the two local schools.
Making a Positive Difference - OtiCongress participants Carol Maksimow, B.S., BC-HIS, ACA (left) and Elaine Raccio BC-HIS (center, back row) took time from the knowledge-sharing conference to volunteer their expertise at a special clinic for children in need at the Argentinean non-profit group, Mutualidad Argentina de Hipoacusicos (MAH). More than half of the 100 children were fit binaurally. Oticon, Inc, organized the humanitarian effort during this year's OtiCongress held in Buenos Aires and donated 132 hearing devices.
Mutualidad Argentina de Hipoacusicos has been a valued Oticon partner for over 25 years. The non-profit organization has provided hearing solutions to over 60,000 patients as part of their commitment to serving the hearing impaired population of Argentina. Over the coming months, the MAH audiologists will continue the care of the youngsters fitted with Oticon hearing instruments, following their progress and adjusting the instruments to best suit the needs of each child. MAH audiologists will report the childrens' progress and obtain needed support from Oticon audiologists.
For more information about Oticon, please visit www.oticonusa.com or the Oticon Web Channel on Audiology Online at www.audiologyonline.com/channels/oticon.asp
