Hearing Aid Project

Another ongoing project initiated by MedicalAid India e.V. is the hearing aid project. Many people, including young individuals and particularly children, suffer from hearing loss due to various causes. Often, surgical intervention could help, but given the impoverished conditions in India, this is frequently impossible. Additionally, there is a lack of skilled, well-trained ear surgeons in rural areas. For this reason, MedicalAid India e.V. collects used hearing aids. Thanks to the generous contributions from numerous citizens of the Lower Rhine region, hundreds of used hearing aids have been collected and reused in medical camps.

Acousticians from companies like Geers and Gut Hören and Hörgeräteakustik Brungs volunteer to refurbish these devices at no cost, ensuring they can be seamlessly fitted to patients in India.

The hearing aid project, overseen by ENT doctor Dr. Susanne Wagener, involves examining an average of 700 patients per medical camp, with approximately 350 receiving hearing aids and batteries. Dr. Wagener is supported by two competent acousticians, Marcus Brungs from Engelskirchen, Germany, and Ivian Richard from Bangalore, India. Together, they manage to handle this enormous task. The demand is so high that waiting lists for the following year have already been created.

Patients who receive a hearing aid can return for a follow-up after six months. During these follow-ups, minor repairs can be made, and they receive additional batteries to last until the next medical camp.