Starkey Hearing Foundation

08/12/2025

Latin America holds a special place in our hearts and our history. El Salvador was the location of our first international mission in 1997. 🤗🇸🇻

As we've continued our mission and expanded our efforts over the years, we're excited to welcome our first-ever Starkey Hearing Institute class of hearing health care professionals in El Salvador!

Our partner, Universidad Dr. José Matías Delgado, will help guide our class of 30 students through their four-month program, learning the WFA Model with hands-on and virtual learning.

Our team can't wait to see the lasting impact these students will make across Latin America.

08/07/2025

What is the WFA Model?

Our Wide-Frequency Audibility® (WFA) Fitting Model is a patented and subjective behavioral approach designed to improve access to hearing healthcare for people in need, especially in areas lacking such services.🦻🌍

The acronym WFA has a dual meaning: it stands for Wide Frequency Audibility and is also named after its founder, William F. Austin. This method creates an entry-level model that is simple, scalable, and sustainable, allowing ongoing service that has helped millions of people worldwide.

It's hearing care that meets people where they are — and keeps them hearing life's beautiful moments for years to come.

08/05/2025

It's always a joy to see people return and share how hearing has improved their lives.

Kizza, a traffic instructor in Uganda, was fit for hearing aids back in 2015. She recently visited our Active Care team for new batteries and earmolds — still thriving and hearing strong! 🤗

07/31/2025

Witnessing someone hearing again for the first time is pure magic. There's joy, connection and hope all wrapped up in one life-changing moment.

Hearing connects us to the world around us. It helps us share laughter, love and life’s most meaningful moments — together. 🦻

07/29/2025

Regina received the gift of hearing seven years ago, and she shared with us how this experience has forever changed her life. ♥️

"When I heard on the radio that Starkey Hearing Foundation would assess and give free hearing aids to those with hearing challenges, I did not hesitate to keep the date. When I showed up, I was fortunate to be given support for both ears.

Before I received my hearing aids, I had problems communicating with my customers. As a hairdresser, you always stand behind the client, and I had difficulty hearing or reading their lips. Since receiving these angels, they are doing wonders for my business, and I am grateful for the Starkey Hearing Foundation."

07/24/2025

We're thrilled to announce the beginning of a new Starkey Hearing Institute program in El Salvador! 🇸🇻🎉

We've partnered with the Universidad Dr. José Matías Delgado to offer a four-month program for students to learn the WFA Model, participate in Active Care outreach and build their skills to provide life-changing hearing care in Latin America.

This marks another powerful step toward creating a sustainable, community-led hearing care network around the world. Together, we're training the next generation of hearing care professionals — right where they're needed most.

07/23/2025

Our hearts are with the Osbourne family.

Ozzy's larger-than-life presence and global impact will always be remembered. We are forever grateful for the support he showed to Starkey Hearing Foundation mission and his commitment to uplifting people with hearing loss around the world.

07/22/2025

We believe sustainable hearing care starts with a community-based model.

In a recent HearingHealthMatters.org podcast, our Chairman and President, Richard Brown, and Executive Director of Starkey Hearing Institute Zambia, Alfred Mwamba, shared how we're reshaping global hearing health.

From Zambia to the Philippines, the impact is real — and it's growing. We're proud to lead the movement that centers on people, purpose and lasting change.

🎧 Watch the full podcast episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOQcXZWyRVQ&t=1s&ab_channel=ThisWeekinHearing

What does it take to build sustainable hearing care infrastructure in underserved regions of the world? In this inspiring interview, Andrew Bellavia is joined by Richard Brown, Chairman and President of the Starkey Hearing Foundation, and Dr. Alfred Mwamba, Executive Director of the Starkey Hearing....

07/20/2025

Please join us in wishing our co-founder, Tani Austin, the happiest of birthdays today! 🦋🎉

Tani’s heart, vision and tireless dedication to giving the gift of hearing continue to inspire all of us. Her compassion leaves a lasting impression everywhere she goes — and today, we celebrate her!

Happy birthday, Tani! Thank you for leading with love and purpose.

07/15/2025

Desire is a shining example of how impactful Active Care is toward education and understanding of the WFA Model at the Starkey Hearing Institute Zambia.

"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙜𝙤 𝙗𝙮, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙚, 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙄 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙨. 𝙄 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧.

𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 ​​𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙖 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨. 𝙄'𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨."

We're so inspired by the way our students are building confidence with their new skills!

07/11/2025

We are proud to be the largest global nonprofit dedicated to creating greater access to hearing healthcare for those who need it most.

By empowering local hearing professionals and teaching the WFA Model, we're providing a real, lasting impact — one community at a time.

This mission goes beyond providing the gift of hearing. It's about shaping a future where hearing healthcare is accessible, sustainable and rooted in every community.

Learn more about how we are creating a difference in so many lives and how the newest graduates will help support people across Southeast Asia in the HearingTracker article below.

Starkey Hearing Foundation graduates 38 new hearing care providers in the Philippines, expanding access to life-changing services across underserved regions.

07/08/2025

Sphiwe is a bright and resilient 17-year-old who has lived with hearing loss in her right ear for years. Her journey toward better hearing began when she was fitted with a hearing aid, but she experienced discomfort with her current earmold.

Thanks to our Champions in her area listening to her concerns, our team was able to provide a custom mold that removed that discomfort and provided clearer hearing, opening the door to the world of sound again.

The world around her, once muffled and distant, has become more vivid and alive. She is ready to rejoin the sounds of laughter, learning and life. Her smile says it all! 😄