Starkey Hearing Foundation

Investing in people. Expanding access. Changing the world. "Giving one hearing aid at a time, is not just giving them back their hearing, but also touching their souls, giving them a new beginning, allowing them to explore their potential..." We're so proud the recent graduates of Starkey Hearing Institute Philippines - From classroom to community, these leaders are bringing hearing healthcare where it’s needed most! #SoTheWorldMayHear

Recently, a group of alumni in Uganda led a mission that provided life-changing hearing care to 224 individuals, entirely organized, coordinated, and run by them. This is the true power of our training: equipping local professionals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to bring hearing healthcare directly to their own communities. At Starkey Hearing Foundation, the work goes beyond hearing aids. It’s about empowerment, sustainability, and creating lasting impact. #SoTheWorldMayHear

At Starkey Hearing Foundation, we see it every day: one gift of hearing can ripple far beyond a single life. Anthasia was just five years old when she received hearing aids at our very first mission in the Philippines. Today, she’s 18 and a junior at the Philippine School for the Deaf. This time, she didn’t return only for herself. She brought 20 classmates with her. Because of her, many heard their name spoken for the first time. Others experienced music for the very first time. Together, they stepped into the world of sound side by side, sharing the joy of hearing. One act of kindness can grow into something truly extraordinary. #SoTheWorldMayHear

Today, on the International Day of Happiness, we’re celebrating what it looks like when hearing is restored. Smiles that light up a room. Laughter shared together. Music finally heard. Lives forever changed. This is what hearing happiness looks like. #InternationalDayOfHappiness #SoTheWorldMayHear

In Burundi, hearing care is reaching children right where they need it most, the classroom. This past World Hearing Day, Starkey Hearing Foundation Burundi alumni brought ear and hearing screenings directly to students at Stella Matutina School. More than 406 children were served in a single day, surrounded by teachers, classmates, and a community cheering them on. With partners including the World Health Organization Burundi Office, the Ministry of Education, and other local leaders, one message is clear. When hearing healthcare happens in schools, children are more likely to be identified early, treated, and supported for long term success. That is the power of the WFA method. A model that is universal, adaptable, and designed to reach people where they live, learn, and grow. Because when children can hear, they have a better chance to learn, participate, and build the future ahead of them. #SoTheWorldMayHear

The first time Shameera heard the world around her, she began to sing. Shameera is five years old and full of curiosity. She loves being around other kids and wants to play, explore, and be part of everything happening around her. When she received hearing aids, a new world began to open up. Her face lit up with discovery. And before long, Shameera found her voice and began to sing. Hearing is about more than sound. It’s connection, confidence, and the simple moments a mother and daughter share together. Follow and share to help bring hearing to more children around the world!

Thanks to ongoing aftercare, Honorinah is back in the classroom, engaged, motivated, and thriving in her lessons! Honorinah is a 13-year-old student from Tamatave who lost her hearing aids during the pandemic. Without them, following lessons, participating in class, and keeping up with her studies became incredibly difficult. When she arrived at a Starkey Hearing Foundation Madagascar service center with her teacher, our trained graduates provided follow-up care through the WFA method and fit her with new hearing aids. The moment they turn on, her smile says everything. Now Honorinah can focus on what every child deserves the chance to learn, grow, and dream. By restoring her hearing, we do more than provide technology. We reopen the doors to her education and the possibilities ahead. #SoTheWorldMayHear

On International Women’s Day, we honor the women who make our mission possible. Hearing professionals, mothers, sisters, daughters, and caregivers serving patients just like themselves in communities around the world. Today we celebrate the women of Starkey Hearing Foundation who uplift other women and families through compassion, skill, and service. Their work restores connection, builds confidence, and brings the gift of hearing to people who need it most. When women lead in care, families grow stronger and communities thrive. #InternationalWomensDay

Surrounded by proud families, friends, and mentors, the room was filled with excitement for the future of hearing healthcare across the Philippines. Last week we celebrated 27 new Hearing Healthcare Professionals graduating from the Starkey Hearing Institute Asia Pacific. It was a joyful evening honoring the completion of the Hearing Health Specialist program, made possible through our partnership with the University of Santo Tomas. More than a ceremony, it was a celebration of the impact these graduates will bring to the communities they will soon serve. We were honored to welcome distinguished guests including government leaders, our founders Bill Austin and Tani Austin, members of the Starkey Hearing Foundation Board, the National President of Delta Zeta, and representatives from the University of Santo Tomas. A powerful performance by The Tenors made the evening even more memorable. With the continued support of Starkey Hearing Foundation, these 27 professionals will return to more than 7 provinces across the Philippines, bringing hearing healthcare to communities where access has long been limited. The future of hearing care is growing, one community at a time. #SoTheWorldMayHear

World Hearing Day took us around the globe, and one moment truly stood out. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 20 Starkey Hearing Institute alumni from seven different countries came together around one powerful goal: supporting Benjamin as he served 311 people in his own community with better hearing. He even invited the local Minister of Health to witness the impact, showing that hearing care is not just for one day, but a long term investment worth making. This is what meeting the need looks like. Training put to work. Collaboration across borders. Partnership with government. Real access to hearing healthcare. When Starkey Hearing Foundation professionals come together, communities don’t just receive care. They gain a future where hearing is possible. #WorldHearingDay #SoTheWorldMayHear

We are endlessly grateful for the hundreds of Starkey Hearing Foundation Professionals around the globe who bring hearing back to life - like Jimmy - whether serving 250 people on a mission with our Tanzania alumni or serving just one person through a home visit, year after year. This World Hearing Day, we celebrate the simple, sustainable, and scalable impact of the Starkey Hearing Institutes and the growing network of Hearing Specialists training across the globe. With every new graduate we expand access, care and the gift of hearing. #WorldHearingDay #SoTheWorldMayHear

Our recent mission in the Philippines was nothing short of extraordinary. Alongside our volunteers, partners, and dedicated hearing healthcare professionals, we delivered life-changing care to more than 1,200 individuals from communities across the country. Past and present graduates of Starkey Hearing Institute Philippines served shoulder to shoulder in the field bringing their skills, training, and compassion directly to those in need. Together, we provided hearing healthcare, fit hearing aids, and helped restore connection to the world around them. #SoTheWorldMayHear #Philippines

Today we celebrate the birthday of Bill Austin, a visionary whose belief in the power of hearing has transformed millions of lives around the world. Guided by a simple but powerful philosophy of caring and sharing, Bill built a movement rooted in dignity, access, and human connection. What began as one idea, that everyone deserves the gift of hearing, continues to reach communities near and far. Happy Birthday, Bill. Thank you for showing us what’s possible when compassion leads the way, So the World May Hear.

Not only did we welcome the Starkey Hearing Institute El Salvador Class of 2026, we wasted no time getting to work. Their journey began with hands-on training and a hearing mission where patients experienced the joy of hearing again. Just as powerful was watching something click for our new students. In those moments, they saw firsthand how life-changing this work can be. This is more than training. These students will carry hearing healthcare back to their home communities, creating impact that will be felt for generations. #SoTheWorldMayHear

What a joy to welcome the Starkey Hearing Institute El Salvador Class of 2026 to the Starkey Hearing Foundation family. This new class of 43 students is beginning a powerful journey of training, learning, and hands-on experience as they prepare to become hearing healthcare professionals serving their communities with compassion and skill. 👂💙 This year marks an exciting milestone. For the first time, students from Guatemala are joining the program alongside students from El Salvador. Together, they represent a growing movement of locally trained professionals expanding access to hearing healthcare across Latin America. By growing our student body and strengthening regional training, we are building long-term capacity, supporting sustainable care, and empowering the next generation of hearing healthcare leaders to reach more people than ever before. #SoTheWorldMayHear #ElSalvador #Guatemala #ClassOf2026 #HearingHealth #LatinAmerica

Sometimes the most powerful care starts with understanding. In a community in Ghana, 100 individuals took part in ear and hearing screenings through Starkey Hearing Foundation’s WFA Community-Based Hearing Program. Along with otoscopy exams, wax removal that often brought immediate relief, and hearing assessments, there was something just as important happening: education. For many, it was the first time they had ever seen their own eardrum. Seeing how delicate it was made the message about safe ear care click. It turned hearing health from an abstract idea into something personal. Something worth protecting. This is at the heart of Starkey Hearing Foundation’s work. It’s not only about treating a need in the moment, but about equipping people with knowledge, dignity, and the ability to care for their hearing long after we leave. We’re grateful for the dedicated professionals on the ground who show up day after day, strengthening their communities through care, education, and a shared commitment to hearing health. #SoTheWorldMayHear

Continuous care from Starkey Hearing Foundation helped set Joseph on a path that’s now helping others. Joseph is a 25-year-old student from Manila who was born with hearing challenges. Struggling to hear at school slowly wore down his confidence, and there were moments when he nearly gave up on his education. In 2015, Joseph met Starkey Hearing Foundation and received hearing aids that opened doors he once thought were closed. Today, he’s studying Special Education, with a dream of becoming a teacher who empowers children with hearing difficulties, just like he was. During an Aftercare Service at UST, Joseph was supported by a student from Starkey Hearing Institute Manila. Ongoing care from trained professionals removes barriers and opens new opportunities, especially as our third cohort gets underway. #SoTheWorldMayHear

Happy Founders Day to Mr. Bill Austin and Mrs. Tani Austin! Today, Starkey Hearing Foundation pauses to honor the founding vision behind one mission: So the World May Hear. A simple yet powerful belief that has become a movement that now reaches across the globe! Because of that vision in 1984, children learn, families connect, and communities thrive with access to hearing health care. Thank you, Mr. & Mrs. Austin, for being faithful stewards of this mission. #FoundersDay #SoTheWorldMayHear

During a recent Aftercare visit in Uganda, Fazirah met someone unforgettable, a man who has been wearing Starkey Hearing Foundation hearing aids for nearly a decade. Charles lost his hearing suddenly at 44. He woke up one morning unable to hear in both ear. What could have been the end of his story became a turning point, thanks to the ongoing care provided by Starkey Hearing Institute trained professionals like Fazirah. Today, Charles is a pastor and church leader, able to hear the voices of his congregation and share messages of hope. He spoke with deep gratitude to Starkey Hearing Foundation, not only for restoring his hearing in 2016, but for helping him reclaim his calling. This is why we invest in training local professionals, so hearing can be restored, lives renewed, and communities strengthened for generations. #SoTheWorldMayHear

Denise returned to our Starkey Hearing Foundation AfterCare Clinic with a broken hearing aid, but what she really needed was reassurance that she wouldn’t face this alone. A quick repair and fresh batteries brought sound back, and her smile said everything. Before hearing aids, Denise described a world of silence, isolation, and feeling unseen. When Starkey Hearing Foundation first provided her with hearing aids, everything changed. Today, she’s thriving in 11th grade, participating in school, laughing with friends, and fully present with her family. This is why we believe in community-based hearing healthcare. AfterCare ensures ongoing support from local professionals, so hearing isn’t just restored once, it’s sustained for life. #SoTheWorldMayHear