Make a difference! Donate hearing aids to The Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss

It breaks my heart to think about those individuals who do not have access to hearing healthcare and rehabilitative services. The ability to hear, whether naturally or with amplification, provides us with the means to communicate. And the lack of communication can bear significant emotional and social impacts on an individual, leading to isolation and even depression. For children, the ability to hear is a crucial building block for speech and language development. 

I came across an article on AudiologyOnline about a foundation that makes a huge impact for those who are underserved across various countries. In Vietnam, there are approximately 180,000 children who are identified with a hearing loss and yet there are no "professionally trained" audiologists to serve those in need. The Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss, a non-profit organization, provides services to those in need, but also trains educators and families to follow their lead for continued support. 

On January 10-21, 2011, an international team of audiologists and auditory-verbal therapists will be collaborating with nine Deaf Education schools in Vietnam to provide audiologic testing, hearing aid fittings, and auditory-verbal support to children and their educators and families. If you, a relative or a friend have a good functioning behind-the-ear style hearing aid, you can donate it to The Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss. If you don't have access to any used hearing aids, you can also provide monetary support for the mission. 

According to the article, the foundation has already received hearing aid donations from manufacturers, Oticon and Phonak, as well as grants from other organizations for the purchase of hearing aids. It states that a $100 donation can provide one hearing aid and two batteries, which is amazing. But of course, any amount of donation can contribute to the greater good and there are even opportunities to volunteer! 

For this holiday season, take a moment to consider the difference you can make in the lives of others!


For monetary donations to support the foundation’s Vietnam Deaf Education & Hearing Aid Programs: http://www.childrenwithhearingloss.org/difference.shtml

To donate hearing aids for the January 2010 mission: Contact Paige Stringer, Executive Director, Global Foundation For Children With Hearing Loss at paige@childrenwithhearingloss.org