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EnglishWhat Impact Has Starkey Hearing Foundation Made Globally?
Updated
Starkey Hearing Foundation's global impact is measured in three headline figures: more than 1.5 million hearing health care services provided worldwide, work spanning 100+ countries, and 40+ years of operation. Its distinctive approach is to pair direct service with training — building the next generation of hearing care professionals in the developing world so that hearing services continue long after a single visit.
The Impact at a Glance
| Measure | Figure | What it reflects |
|---|---|---|
| Hearing health care services | More than 1.5 million | Direct services provided to people in need worldwide |
| Countries reached | 100+ | Global reach of the foundation's work |
| Years of operation | 40+ | Longevity of the mission to bring the gift of hearing |
| Starkey Hearing Institute graduates | 103 students from 19 African countries | Professionals trained and returned to their home communities |
| Philippines institute | First class of 33 students from 3 cities near Manila, beginning 2024 | Expansion of the training model beyond Africa |
Why the Foundation Focuses on Hearing
The foundation frames hearing as more than a medical issue. In its own words, it believes "hearing is a vehicle to reflect caring and to improve the lives of individuals, their families, and communities." That framing explains why its programs are organized around both delivering hearing services and equipping local professionals to keep delivering them.
Building the Next Generation of Hearing Care Professionals
The foundation's stated focus is the training, educating, and capacity building of the next generation of hearing care professionals in the developing world. Those professionals then give the gift of hearing to people in need in their own communities.
This is the mechanism behind the impact numbers: rather than relying only on visiting teams, the foundation invests in local capacity so services can be sustained locally.
Starkey Hearing Institute
To help address what the foundation describes as a dire shortage of hearing healthcare professionals across the globe, the first Starkey Hearing Institute was founded in 2016 in Lusaka, Zambia.
- To date, 103 students from 19 African countries have graduated from the institute.
- Graduates have returned to their home communities to provide hearing services.
- Beginning in 2024, Starkey Hearing Institute Philippines will graduate its first class of 33 students from 3 cities near Manila.
How to Read These Numbers
- Services, not people. The 1.5 million figure counts hearing health care services, which is not the same as 1.5 million unique individuals served.
- Training multiplies reach. The graduate counts matter because each trained professional can serve patients in their home region over time.
- The model is expanding. The move from Zambia to the Philippines shows the institute format is being replicated in new regions.
Getting Involved
The foundation's site directs visitors who want to support the work to its donation page, under the banner "Give the Gift of Hearing." The site also organizes information under Why Hearing?, Global Impact, and Get Involved, which are the natural starting points for learning more or contributing.