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10/26/2019  |   3:45 PM - 5:00 PM   |  Ventana Ballroom B

Making a World Record Count for People with Hearing Loss in India

The Starkey Hearing Foundation (SHF) has a team in India that carries out hearing health care in behalf of low-income people who are unable to qualify for hearing aids through government-run programs. Several years ago, a government-led effort was made in India to set the world record for the number of hearing aids fit in a day. The SHF India Team saw the lack of follow up on behalf of the people who received hearing aids during that event and decided to break the record themselves but to ensure that the people who received the hearing aids would benefit from them. The SHF India team and several humanitarian partners in Maharashtra State worked together to accomplish this huge task. In all, 4840 of 6319 people who were screened were able to be fit with hearing aids in the record-setting event that was certified by Guinness World Record adjudicators. As amazing as setting the record was, an even more intense effort was made after the fitting to contact each of those individuals to follow up on their fitting and address any needs or concerns. Within 5 months after the fitting, 3985 of the 4840 people fit were contacted and given assistance adapting to their hearing aids and troubleshooting any problems. Residential schools for the deaf in Maharashtra were part of the record setting event and not only were these school children given follow up through the SHF Aftercare program but also their teachers were surveyed to see how many children are still wearing their hearing aids. Also, the survey asked teachers about the listening behaviors of the children with the hearing aids. The details of the effort to set the record and of the follow up and survey will be discussed.

• 1. The learner will learn about the prevalence and scope of hearing loss in India.
• 2. The learner will understand the critical importance of follow up to the success of any effort to help people hear via hearing aids.
• 3. The learner will grasp the benefit of partnering with local humanitarian organizations to accomplish a large scale event.

Presentation:
18369_12320JefferyLarsen.pdf

Handouts:
18369_12320JefferyLarsen.pdf

Nihar Pradhan (Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Starkey Hearing Foundation, nihar_pradhan@starkey.com;
Nihar Pradhan received his audiology and speech language pathology diplomas from the

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Kalyani Mandke (Author,Co-Author), Mandke Hearing Services Pune, kalyani.mandke@gmail.com;
Dr. Kalyani Mandke, Ph.D., CCC-A has made it her mission to enrich the concept of audiology and aural rehabilitation at the grass root level. She received her AuD from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2007 and her Ph.D. from the School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Pune 1991. She has been the recipient of many awards including a Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Contribution in International Achievement of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)2015 and the ASHA Diversity Champion Award in 2009. SHe has presented her work at many international conferences and is the Director of Mandke Hearing Services in Pune, India that she began in 1985.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Suresh Pillai (Author,Co-Author), Starkey Hearing Foundation, suresh_pillai@starkey.com;
Suresh Pillai is the International Development Director for Southeast Asia and Armenia for the Starkey Hearing Foundation. He is also a key member of the India SHF team and has been involved with the Starkey Hearing Foundation providing hearing health care in India for many years.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Jeffery Larsen (POC,Co-Presenter), Starkey Hearing Foundation, Jeff_Larsen@Starkeyfoundation.org;
Dr. Jeff Larsen is a researcher and audiologist with the Starkey Hearing Foundation. He has been involved with humanitarian efforts in hearing healthcare for many years including efforts to begin an audiology graduate program at the University of Ghana, humanitarian trips with students at Utah State University, and through volunteer work with the Starkey Hearing Foundation (SHF). He is currently working on evaluation of the SHF by measuring the impact of their activities for individuals, families, communities, and countries.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Receives Salary for Employment from Starkey Hearing Foundation.   Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Receives support from Starkey Hearing Foundation.