LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) — Free hearing aids are available to those in need in exchange for volunteer hours thanks to a Longview audiologist and a national nonprofit. Ken Martin has been runnin…
05/22/2025
One of Our Most Memorable Patients in Guatemala: Meet Emely
On one of our final days at Hospital de la Familia, we met a remarkable young girl named Emely and her devoted mother.
Emely had been scheduled for a hearing test in Guatemala City—a crucial step in getting her the support she needs for her autism. But when the test was suddenly canceled, it threatened to delay her access to critical resources.
Not willing to give up, Emely’s mother found out that Hospital de la Familia might be able to help. Without hesitation, they drove nearly eight hours to reach our team.
The test Emely needed is called an Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), which requires anesthesia and gives a detailed picture of a patients hearing. Dr. Jen Phelan performed the test and Emely passed with beautifully defined waveforms.
Thanks to this test and the tireless dedication of the HDLF team, Emely is now on track to receive the support she needs to better understand and engage with the world around her.
05/21/2025
Antonia, a businesswoman in Guatemala, has faced her share of health challenges.
As an adult, she was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure—major changes that she and her husband had to learn to manage together. Meanwhile, her hearing had been slowly declining, though not enough to raise alarm.
That changed suddenly when her blood pressure spiked, causing a blood vessel to burst in her ear and worsening her hearing loss. When she saw her doctor, the news came with a shock: if the vessel hadn’t burst in her ear, it likely would’ve ruptured in her brain. In a twist of fate, her hearing loss may have saved her life.
When Antonia met our team at Hospital de la Familia, she found more than support—she found solutions and regained some of her hearing. For Antonia and her husband, this moment was more than just progress—it was a powerful sign of new beginnings, reconnection, and an abundance of thankfulness.
05/20/2025
Rene’s smile says it all.
He lived with hearing loss for years, searching for something—anything—to improve his hearing. A doctor once told him nothing could be done for his left ear. He’d have to live with limited hearing, and that was that.
Then one day, while visiting Hospital de la Familia for vision care, Rene heard about our audiology team visiting in the coming months. It was a second chance—one he didn’t think he’d ever get.
What he received wasn’t just hearing aids alone. He got back what he was told he’d lost forever: the ability to preserve his hearing.
A day that started with cautious hope ended in gratitude that will last a lifetime.
05/19/2025
Hospital de la Familia welcomes our team of audiologists to Nuevo Progreso, Guatemala!
This trip holds a special place for students, mentors, and educators alike. It offers a meaningful opportunity to strengthen best practices in patient-centered care while supporting student audiologists in applying their clinical skills in diverse settings.
Join us as we highlight the dedication, hard work, and compassionate care delivered by this incredible team in Guatemala!
05/12/2025
“I couldn’t hear at all.”
This man in Malawi came to us unable to hear people speak. Testing showed a moderate hearing loss in one ear and severe loss in the other.
After being fit with hearing aids, he went from near silence to understanding conversations—a life-changing moment for him and for our team.
This is why we do what we do. 💛
05/10/2025
Another amazing day in Malawi! Our team saw 65 patients, including 17 children, and completed 30 hearing aid fittings. 29 people were referred to ENT, many for wax removal—small steps make a huge difference in hearing health. Grateful for the impact and the smiles today! 💛
05/09/2025
This is Michelle. 💛
Last year in Malawi, Hearing the Call fit her with hearing aids for her moderate to severe hearing loss. This year, Michelle came back—one of her hearing aids had stopped working, so she and her family waited patiently all day.
She lit up when she saw familiar faces and was thrilled to be fit with a brand new hearing aid! Moments like this—connection, joy, and recognition—are what make returning so special.
For Heidi, seeing Michelle again was the highlight of the trip. 💫
04/21/2025
Hearing the Call – Jordan Outreach Update 🇯🇴👂💙
Our hearing outreach trip to Jordan continues—and it’s been nothing short of incredible.
This time, we were joined not only by 4th year audiology students from Zarqa University, but also by three amazing audiologists from Palestine who first joined us during our 2023 trip. Their return is a beautiful example of the kind of selfless collaboration that makes sustainable hearing healthcare possible in communities like this.
With their help, we were able to fit dozens of children with hearing aids—giving them the chance to learn, grow, and connect with their families, friends, and the world around them. 🌍💫
This is how lasting change begins. Together. 🤝
04/19/2025
Hearing the Call – Jordan Outreach Continues 🇯🇴💙
Some stories break your heart… and then give you hope.
This sweet girl fell from a second-story window, suffering severe injuries—including permanent hearing loss. While her body healed, her hearing did not… until now.
Today, she’s all smiles after having her hearing partially restored. Her father shared his gratitude and said he’s filled with hope for her future. Moments like this are why we do what we do. 💫
What makes this trip even more special? 🎓 Fourth-year audiology students from Zarqa University are joining us in the clinic, gaining hands-on experience and learning side-by-side with our team.
A huge thank you to our incredible local partner, Zadcom Relief and Development—we truly couldn’t do this without you. Your dedication and support make a lasting difference.
04/18/2025
Relief is just the beginning. Development is the mission. 💙
In Jordan, a team of audiologists can help 100 people in a week. But when we educate future audiologists, they’ll go on to help tens of thousands over their careers.
🎓 Dr. Jenna Vallario spent the day teaching future audiology and speech pathology students at Zarqa University—and over the next three days, those students will join the Hearing the Call team for hands-on clinical training.
We’re incredibly grateful to Zarqa University for their partnership and commitment to building a strong audiology program for the future. We’re honored to be a small part of their journey. 🙌
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Hearing the Call is a nonprofit organization that provides the “gift of hearing” (hearing healthcare & hearing aids) to the underserved worldwide.
Imagine having no access to hearing healthcare or sign language... This is the case of 466 million people worldwide — of which 34 million are children.
In the United States, untreated hearing loss leads to isolation, depression, and lower earning potential. In many other countries it can lead to ostracization, little or no education, and physical abuse.
Hearing the Call provides opportunities for audiologists, ENT doctors, students, and volunteers to travel to countries and areas such as Jordan, Palestine, Zambia, South Africa, Guatemala, Ecuador, and more to help us bring the gift of hearing to the less fortunate.
We also provide opportunities to help in our own back yard through several local organizations throughout the United States.
If you have the desire to help and give back you can be part of our team and help us change lives of thousands of people! You can help with your time, talent or treasure. We will be thrilled to welcome you to our mission!
