Posted by HearStrong
14-year-old, Sean Verbosky, Buffalo, NY was recently fit with brand new Oticon hearing aids at no cost to his family by Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center. This was made possible through the HearStrong and Lemon(aids) 4 Hearing Aids partnership that works with generous providers to help kids get fit with hearing aids.
HearStrong is an organization that recognizes outstanding adults and children with hearing loss and gives them a platform to empower and serve others in need of hearing care. In March 2019, HearStrong teamed up with Lemon(aids) 4 Hearing Aids, a likeminded organization with a mission to help everyone get hearing aids who needs them. The partnership allows for individuals in need to apply to be one of the recipients to receive a free set of hearing aids. They work with local hearing care providers like Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center, to fit the devices free of charge.
Sean was diagnosed with hearing loss and received his first set of hearing aids at age 4 after his preschool teacher noticed he stopped following directions. With outdated hearing aids the additional obstacles of this past year, like the mask mandate and online classes were extremely difficult for Sean. His parents wanted to provide him with the updated hearing devices he needed, but due to their high cost, they weren’t able to afford new devices out of pocket. They were extremely happy when they learned Sean was a recipient to receive new hearing aids.
On Oct 21st, Sean was fit with his new Oticon devices by Dr. Katrina Makey at Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center in West Seneca, NY. The ability to hear better has already positively impacted Sean’s life.
Dr. Makey said, “I hope that these new hearing aids provide the patient with a new world of connectivity and overall better hearing. Every child deserves to hear everything the world has to offer!”
Getting Sean connected to hearing better was made possible through the generosity of Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center’s services! To learn more about the HearStrong Foundation and our programs, go to hearstrong.org.
About HearStrong
HearStrong was founded in 2013 with the goal of inspiring a mass hearing healthcare awareness movement. An estimated 48 million Americans experience hearing loss. In response to this need, HearStrong began recognizing and sharing the stories of remarkable people with hearing loss. Today, HearStrong’s efforts have expanded and the organization partners with hearing healthcare professionals across the country to give people of all ages access to hearing health services.
About Lemon(aids)
Lemon(aids) 4 Hearing Aids is an organization started in 2018 by 8-year-old, Carly Waters, who’s two little sisters have hearing loss. After learning how expensive hearing aids are, Carly wanted to raise money for children who are in need of hearing aids but can’t afford them due to the lack of insurance coverage. She started sewing plush lemons to sell and since then has sold and shipped thousands worldwide. In addition to raising money, the Waters sisters are on a mission to show the world how beautiful it is to be different and educate people on hearing loss and the importance of hearing health.
