In this week's Positively Fort Wayne, WANE15's Pat Hoffmann takes a tour of local nonprofit GiveHear. GiveHear was established in 2011 to help remove cost as a barrier to treatment for hearing loss. While 1 in 8 people may have measurable hearing loss, many don't seek treatment because they ca n't afford It. GiveHear Executive Director Sarah Silva with WANE15's Pat Hoffmann. "Most communities don't have organizations like GiveHear," says Executive Director Sarah Silva. "We're here downtown. We're local, and we really love what we do." "Hearing loss is a two-way disability a lot of times," says GiveHear Audiologist Charlotte Thompson, Au. D. "It's invisible, so it's something we can't really see that someone is struggling with." "It can also be very isolating to that person." GiveHear Audiologist Charlotte Thompson, Au.D. treats one of 3,000 patients the organization helped through their clinic and community outreach programs. Silva says hearing loss in general is a major problem, especially in the United States. She says statistics show there is hearing loss present in one in three live births in America. Estimates also show one in four teenagers have some form of permanent hearing loss. Hearing loss is also prevalent in adults as they age. "We serve about 3,000 individuals a year through our clinic and outreach programs," says Silva. "The mitigating factor though for people accessing hearing aids is usually cost. That's why we exist." Photo courtesy: GiveHear. GiveHear serves people of all ages, from newborns to senior citizens. "Treating hearing loss is changing a life," says Silva. "Especially for young ones. The Pediatrics Services room is a comforting room where little ones receive hearing aid services and cochlear implant services. GiveHear's Newborn Hearing Program was created to ensure that all newborns/infants needing newborn hearing screenings or diagnostic follow-up after a failed newborn screening could access said services at a price-capped cost of $50 per family, regardless of household income or insurance status. GiveHear is one of two offices in Allen County that owns the equipment capable of diagnosing hearing loss in newborns/infants. Insurance will be billed when applicable, and family out-of-pocket expense is capped at $50 for this critical testing. The walls at their office in Fort Wayne are adorned with giant black and white photographs of patients receiving the gift of hearing. "I always tell people I'm very fortunate," says GiveHear Audiologist Sarah Delaney, Au.D. "When I say I love my job, I truly mean it!" Givehear Audiologist Sarah Delaney, A.u.D. treats a young patient. Photo courtesy: GiveHear. Delaney is featured in one of the most moving photos in the lobby with a young patient with a facial expression that shows the beauty of the gift of hearing. "Pure joy," says Delaney. "Pure joy." Delaney says each picture on the wall tells a different story and serves as a reminder of the importance of the work they do. "A lot of these patients have been with us since the beginning," she says. "These patients have counted on us for our care for over ten years." Givehear Audiologist Sarah Delaney, A.u.D. shows WANE15's Pat Hoffmann some of the giant pictures that adorn the walls of GiveHear. "Sometimes you see videos online of people hearing for the first time, or not having heard for a long time and they get that gift back," says Silva. "We get to do that every day." "The most positive thing about GiveHear is the impact we have on our patients," says Thompson. "To help give them that gift of hearing and to see how far reaching that impact can be. It's a great feeling." Photo courtesy: GiveHear. "We have a lot of happy tears here," says Delaney. "It's emotional because until you've not had hearing, or not experienced it in a long time, giving back that access to sounds is life changing." "This is what we're here to do," says Silva. "If you have any reservation about seeking help for your hearing loss, especially it's due to cost, I encourage you to please give us a look." "We can probably make it a reality for you," she says. "Just keep us in mind." GiveHear is located at 130 West Main Street in Downtown Fort Wayne. Their office is in Suite 150 of the Kitch Building, right across the street from Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island. GiveHear's phone number is (260)602-3276. You can learn much more about the organization on their website at givehear.org. GiveHear Audiologist Charlotte Thompson, Au.D. performs a hearing test. Positively Fort Wayne segments air each Monday morning on WANE15's First News and in the evening on First at Five. ...read more read less