Service, training and outreach – the EARS Inc. Model for a self sustainable hearing program in action

Abstract

Purpose: EARS Inc. is a faith based not-for-profit organization established in 1998. As an organization, it has consistently maintained a goal to provide both short-term and long-term projects in low and middle income countries. One specific project undertaken by EARS Inc involved developing a hearing health program in the Dominican Republic. Methods: This article is a review of the challenges and successes encountered on the road to establishing improved access and affordability of hearing aid technology for the hearing impaired in Domincan Republic. Results: Despite the challenges, after 12 years of local programming, the hearing health services in the Dominican Republic were successfully implemented. The development of these services included the simultaneous development of a training program, earmould laboratory, hearing aid repair services as well as calibration services and sales of batteries and accessories. Conclusions: As demonstrated in this review, it is possible to develop sustainable and comprehensive diagnostic and rehabilitation hearing services in a developing country. It is clear that training, equipping and empowering local staffs are instrumental to the success of the program.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• A good hearing aid fitting is more than supplying technology. Patient education and the clinician fitting the hearing aid are important.

• Access to follow-up services including battery supplies, hearing aid adjustments and hearing aid repairs is essential for a hearing aid fitting program in low and middle income countries to be sustainable.

• Check the WHO guidelines for hearing aid provision in developing countries when planning a program.

• When working in a country, co-ordinate with local professionals involved in hearing health where available.

• Audiology
• developing countries
• hearing aids
• hearing health
• hearing technology
• humanitarian
• sustainable hearing programs
• training

Notes

¹The cost of a hard acrylic ear mould is US$18, US$22.40 for a silicon ear mould and US$33.60 for a shell for an ITE. This is based on the price of the products with a charge per hour for the technician who makes the ear moulds in the ear mould laboratory on-site.

²There are a large number of people in the Dominican Republic without documents; these maybe Dominicans who were not registered by their parents after their birth, illegal immigrants or children of illegal immigrants (typically from Haiti).

³The clinical director and the project director were trained in 2012 at the University of North Carolina using funds granted by the Hear the World foundation.

⁴This figure is the 10.28million population figure from 2013 and includes the projected 1.4% population growth in the last year.