World Wide Hearing

Audio 20/20

Audio 20/20 is the global initiative of World Wide Hearing to bring about a reduction of hearing impairment and the negative effects of hearing loss on the quality of life of people in developing countries and underserved communities.  The strategy to implement Audio 20/20 is summarized in the action plan (P.R.E.E.T.A.) as follows:

Prevention:

• Much hearing-related disability can be prevented by promoting accessibility to low-cost antibiotics and vaccinations for all infants and children.
• Prevention also entails facilitating and supporting community-based rehabilitation programs, clinics, and hospitals to implement newborn and childhood screening programs, as well as promoting health educational programs on harmful chemicals and medicines, especially certain antibiotics.

To be implemented by working with government health departments and strategic partners (such as the United Kingdom's IMPACT Foundation, and the Coalition for Global Hearing Health.)


Research:

• WWHearing recognizes the critical lack of research on hearing impairment in the developing world and believes that supporting such research is an important step towards effectively addressing the problem of hearing impairment itself.

Implementation will take place by supporting the efforts of its collaborating partners, such as the Centre for Disability and Development at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), by providing technical expertise and experience in research on ear and hearing problems around the world.


Education:

• WWHearing believes that with some professional attention and the provision of high-quality hearing aids, many children with hearing impairment are capable of attending and even thriving in mainstream (inclusive) schools.
• WWHearing's main activity is to facilitate the provision and fitting, and follow-up of hearing aids to children as well as adults, while making sure that they have access to training programs for better speech, language and communication skills (including web-based programs). Ultimately, the goal is to integrate children with hearing impairment into existing education systems and their local communities.

Implementation will take place through coordination between WWHearing and local governments.  Additionally, WWHearing hopes to work with strategic partners who have established credentials in the field of (inclusive) education for persons with hearing impairment.


Equipment:

• Aside from the traditional low-volume but costly diagnostic and fitting process, WWHearing seeks to develop and implement a rapid, high-volume and affordable audiology service combined with fitting affordable, high-quality digital hearing aids through our Hearing Express model.
• Batteries can be prohibitively expensive for low-income families, as well as being environmentally unfriendly.  WWHearing supports using affordable, rechargeable batteries and other alternative power supply systems, especially solar recharger platforms.

Implementation will take place through the Hearing Express service model, which is to be further researched and developed.  WWHearing seeks to apply advances in hearing health care technology in the Hearing Express model.  

Training:

• To 'front-line' individuals such as health care workers, teachers, and family members.
• On developing speech, language, and communication skills for persons who are hard-of-hearing.
• On technical skills and financial sustainability for prospective hearing aid retailers.
• To develop better communication skills so as to increase the rates of job retention among adults and success in mainstream school systems in children.

Implementation will take place primarily through cooperation with local governments and strategic partners. Development of Hearing Express 'Education' Teams that could provide education services in remote areas and underserved communities will be explored by WWHearing in the future.


Advocacy

• Through the network of WWHearing members and through its collaboration agreement with the World Health Organization, WWHearing is in a unique position to advocate on behalf of persons who are hard-of-hearing.
• WWHearing will continue to raise awareness about hearing impairment and its negative effects on individuals and the community at large.
• From 2006 onwards WWHearing has targeted decision makers in governments, community and business leaders, the United Nations, local and international non-government organizations (NGOs) and many others in order to create awareness about the social and economic benefits of assisting hearing impaired persons.  We champion the need to make hearing matter.

 

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