As part of Hear the World Foundation’s global volunteering program, Sonova employees are encouraged to share their expertise with our projects around the world. Dr. Lisbeth Strang, an audiologist from Sonova Audiological Care in Austria, is one of the volunteers who supported our project partners from the Jordan University Hospital (JUH) in Amman.
JUH is working to launch a comprehensive screening program for 3,500 children and newborns and provide hearing aids and adequate follow-up care to children who are diagnosed with hearing loss. This initiative is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other partners to enhance nationwide hearing screening and expand pediatric hearing aid fittings. Additionally, Hear the World Foundation offers training to local audiology professionals to strengthen the healthcare system through online learning formats, as well as its volunteer program.
During her one-week stay in Amman, Dr. Strang provided training to 25 local audiologists at JUH. After her volunteer trip, we caught up with her to find out why she decided to volunteer for Hear the World Foundation and learn more about her experience in Jordan.
What motivated you to support Hear the World Foundation?
Service to others, especially those less fortunate, has been a core value in my life. I volunteered for community hearing screenings during graduate school, participated in humanitarian trips to Honduras and Lebanon, and I have mentored and trained audiology students. Witnessing the disparities in audiology knowledge and services worldwide later in my career convinced me that I wanted to make a difference. When I learned about the volunteering program offered by Hear the World Foundation, I applied because it allowed me to combine my passion for pediatric audiology with my experience in training and mentoring.
I was truly impressed by how supportive the families were: often, several family members accompanied the child during the hospital visit, and some were so moved when their child was fitted with a hearing aid that they were brought to tears. One particularly memorable moment was when we fitted a 5-year-old boy who had a cochlear implant in one ear. When we fitted his other ear with a hearing aid, he immediately exclaimed “Oh, you turned it on!”
Which experience stood out to you the most?
A standout moment for me was teaching an audience of about 60 audiology students, pediatricians, interns, and medical students about hearing loss. I spoke about cytomegalovirus (CMV), explaining that if a mother contracts this virus during pregnancy, it can have severe consequences for the child, including hearing loss or deafness. During the session, one of the head pediatricians remarked: “Let’s include the test for cytomegalovirus in newborn screenings.” I was immensely impressed by the immediate impact of our discussion.
What did you gain from this experience
Volunteering reignited my passion for pediatric audiology and deepened my appreciation for my work. It also heightened my awareness of the things I often take for granted. During my time in Jordan, I encountered many unexpected challenges, such as last-minute schedule changes and earmolds that had not been ordered, and now I feel better equipped to handle unforeseen situations as they arise. As a result, I believe I have become a better clinician.