Project partner
Funding period
since 2018
Support
Technology, Funding, Expertise
About Sonrisas que Escuchan (SQE)
Sonrisas que Escuchan (SQE) is a non-profit organization established in 2009. It intervenes in the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing loss in children and adults of low-income households, thereby contributing to their social, school, and work inclusion. HTWF has been supporting the project, which is located in Guatemala City, since 2018. The organization also has an established partnership with the Canadian-based foundation, World Wide Hearing (WWH).
SQE works with the three major maternity hospitals to assess children as early as possible. The government of Guatemala does not offer neonatal or public-school hearing screenings. SQE closely collaborates with the health ministry, aiming to introduce audiological care to public health services.
Project objectives
- Scale pediatric hearing aid fittings and screenings for newborns
- Support staff in the participation of an audiology training program for continuing education through the National University of Colombia
- Increase the number of hearing aid fittings in babies, children and young adults with hearing loss diagnosed through the Neonatal Hearing Screening program, school screenings and hearing clinics
- Increase the auditory skills of children with hearing loss and give families and teachers guidance and orientation
- Increase the level of knowledge of audio technicians in the capital city and rural communities to improve the quality of the services offered and increase their scope of practice
- Provide a model of Neonatal Hearing Screening to lay the groundwork for introducing new legislation in Guatemala
