We’ve all struggled through this pandemic. Social distancing, plexiglass partitions and face masks have made communication a challenge. Being disconnected from family and friends has made us feel isolated and lonely, increasing the risk of depression and anxiety.
These are the very same challenges individuals with untreated hearing loss experience every day.
As the only non-profit agency of its kind serving Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, the professional team at Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre (IDHHC) has been providing services to Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing individuals and their families for 30 years.
According to a 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) report on hearing, “Over 5% of the world’s population require rehabilitation to address disabling hearing loss. The prevalence of hearing loss increases with age and among those older than 60 years, over 25% are affected by disabling hearing loss.”
Hearing loss is the most common sensory deficit in North America today, and is therefore a severe social and health problem.
Recent research has concluded that untreated hearing loss is linked to depression and social isolation, has serious emotional and social consequences, and negatively impacts quality of life. Providing low-income seniors and adults with hearing aids increases their mental and physical wellness and helps them be safe in their home and community.
This year, IDHHC celebrates the fifth anniversary of the Sound of Change Initiative, which provides free refurbished hearing aids to vulnerable and at-risk populations, especially low-income seniors and adults.
The Hearing Health teams in Nanaimo and Victoria provide individuals with full hearing assessments performed by registered audiologists, refurbished hearing aids, and communication devices and personalized communication plans—all for free.
Since 2016, the Sound of Change Initiative has provided more than 550 people with more than 1,150 free hearing aids—a retail value of about $2.5 million.
IDHHC has four pillars of service: Hearing Health Services, Family and Community Services, Employment Services, and Interpreting & Captioning Services. Each pillar is staffed with service-area professionals who deliver expertise and best practices, and every client receives full access to all professional services without limits or restrictions.
IDHHC serves the complex needs of clients ranging from infants to seniors, focusing on the individual, family and community.
The Hearing Health teams in Nanaimo and Victoria have fully equipped clinics and are ready to serve everyone who needs hearing health support.
But IDHHC cannot do this alone. You can help reduce barriers and support their work. Refer friends or family to get the hearing health assistance they need. Let someone know that employment support is available; or donate hearing aids and communication devices so they can be refurbished for someone else. Make a donation to IDHHC today, so vulnerable individuals in your community get the services they require.
Learn more about the Sound of Change Initiative and the many other services IDHHCoffers at www.idhhc.ca.
