Professional Hearing Services of St. Joseph has joined forces with the Starkey Hearing Foundation to support their efforts to bring understanding among people through hearing care. Together, they are focusing on awareness, education, protection and treatment, “so the world may hear.” The Foundation provided the gift of hearing to over 1. 5 million individuals around the world over the past 40 years
Jayden Duensing Beck, audiologist assistant at Professional Hearing Services, was recently on a mission trip with PHS founder Dr. Gyl Kasewurm and her husband, David Kasewurm, to El Salvador. Dr. Gyl and David have been on many mission trips, but this was Jayden’s first experience with the Starkey Hearing Foundation.
“Going on this mission trip showed me how much Starkey cares for everyone around the world.” Jayden commented. “There is such a shortage of care in these countries and providing the gift of hearing gives recipients the opportunity to live a more productive life.” The mission in El Salvador helped over 1,300 people get fitted with hearing aids.
“This trip was truly an experience of a lifetime.” Jayden stated. “My favorite memory from the mission was fitting a young girl and seeing her smile get bigger as I turned on the hearing aid. Truly, a rewarding moment.”
Hearing loss affects 1 in 8 Americans, and 430 million people worldwide including 34 million children, yet many do not have access to hearing services. Bill Austin, President of the Starkey Foundation, has committed to give away more than 100,000 hearing aids every year in this decade. “Alone we can’t do much,” Austin said, “but together we can change the world.”
Learn more about Professional Hearing Services and the Starkey Hearing Foundation through their websites.
