Hearing Association a winner from 2011 Oticon Foundation grants round

The Oticon Foundation in New Zealand has awarded funding to the Hearing Association for three different projects – including support for the Association’s National Conference in Wanganui over the weekend.

The Foundation will provide financial help to:
· Secure Professor Peter Thorne, from the University of Auckland, as the keynote speaker at the Hearing Association’s National Conference in Wanganui over the weekend (Friday 20 May to Sunday 22 May) to present on hearing loss research.

· Help educate people and staff in rest homes about how to care for and fit residents’ hearing aids.

· Help implement the Dangerous Decibels education programme about noise-induced hearing loss for school-aged students in the Wairarapa. The Oticon Foundation funding will help pay for equipment needed to get the programme underway in the Wairarapa.

“The Oticon Foundation is backing these three Hearing Association projects because all educate about hearing loss, but reach people from different age groups,” says Karen Pullar, Secretary to the Trustees.

“The Hearing Association provides valuable information and connections into communities around the country to help people with hearing loss,” says Ms Pullar. “We believe there is significant value in sharing the insights from New Zealand expert Peter Thorne to a wide range of Hearing Association members at its National Conference, as the knowledge will help them when they return to their local communities.”

Ms Pullar said the Nelson Hearing Association’s application for funding for educational posters for rest homes around the country really struck a chord.

“Staff and field-workers have been expressing concern about the vast number of wrong practices they’ve been seeing in relation to hearing aid care and fittings in rest homes – particularly where people can’t fit their hearing aids themselves,” says Ms Pullar. “The Hearing Association provides training, but believes special posters are needed reminding people how to fit hearing aids.”

The Foundation has been very interested in the Dangerous Decibels programme from the United States, which aims to educate young people about noise induced hearing loss.

“It is very positive that the Hearing Associated in the Wairarapa is picking up this initiative. We are looking forward to working with the Association on its implementation.”

The Hearing Association Board fully supports the initiatives and support given by the Oticon Foundation.

“The three projects will benefit a large number of people of all ages, and we thank the Oticon Foundation for its support,” says John Harwood, National President of the Hearing Association.

The Oticon Foundation in New Zealand was established in October 1976. It is a charitable trust of Oticon New Zealand Limited and aims to improve the lives of the hearing impaired in New Zealand through communication and knowledge. It is committed to finding better solutions to hearing loss and strives to increase public awareness and understanding of hearing impairment.