"The vital role our hearing plays in daily living should never be underestimated or dismissed as unimportant if hearing loss develops," said Dr. Megan Johnson, an audiologist and owner of Johnson Audiology. "At Johnson Audiology our goal is to help people recapture their precious sense of hearing-people from all walks of life."
Helping people hear is Dr. Johnson's chosen profession, but more important, it is her passion. As a young person, Dr. Johnson watched her father struggle with hearing loss so she knew hearing health was a field she could commit herself to fully. In 2009, she founded Johnson Audiology, a private audiology practice with five locations in Tennessee and North Georgia.
For the practice's 10th anniversary last October, Dr. Johnson wished to commemorate the milestone in a significant and lasting way. She did so by launching the Johnson Audiology Hearing Foundation (JAHF). "It had been a dream of mine for years to start a foundation that could offer aid to those in need," she said. JAHF is a 501(c)3, non-profit organization and the official charitable arm of Johnson Audiology. The Foundation serves those living in the greater communities the practice serves-Chattanooga, Hixson, Murfreesboro and Franklin in Tennessee and Cartersville, Georgia.
Dr. Whitney Smith, an audiologist in Johnson Audiology's Chattanooga office and a Foundation officer, explained that JAHF's mission is straightforward-to pair those who cannot afford hearing technology with hearing aids and services. She also said, "We put a lot of thought into our vision statement because we wanted it to reflect how strongly we feel about healthy hearing being a basic human right that everyone should be able to harness." The Foundation's vision statement sums up its goal: The Johnson Hearing Foundation recognizes that healthy hearing harnesses a person's ability to be an active participant in life rather than an isolated bystander. The Foundation also purports that communication is a basic human right. Thus, the Foundation's vision is to make quality hearing health care and technology available and accessible to those with financial need who are struggling with hearing loss. This will be accomplished by mobilizing the power, expertise and passion of hearing health care professionals, volunteers and donors.
Dr. Johnson said, "The Foundation accepts gently-used hearing aids and accessories, as well as monetary gifts from gracious donors." JAHF also works with several of the major hearing aid manufacturers as they refurbish the donated aids, preparing them for deserving recipients. Dr. Johnson added, "Our audiologists are committed to the Foundation, and their volunteerism speaks to the passion they bring to their profession. They truly want to help people hear better."
"We've been very touched by the donations made to the Foundation thus far, but to meet our goal of fitting 100 people this year, we humbly ask the community to continue to give generously," Dr. Johnson said. "Several patients have chosen to move into new technology and have donated their older aids to the Foundation rather than the aids taking up space in a drawer at home. It's a way of giving your aids a second life." Additionally, aids have been donated by family members after a loved one has died. Chattanoogan Brenda McKay recently became a donor to the Foundation after her mother, Clara Lumpkin, passed away unexpectedly. "Our family is devastated by the loss of my mother, but we have chosen to donate her aids to JAHF in Mother's memory. Mother was so committed to her hearing health so that she could stay connected and communicate with us. It's only fitting that we donate her aids. Mother would have wanted it that way-to help someone in need."
Dr. Smith said she has seen firsthand what donations can mean to everyone involved. "I've dedicated my life to helping people hear. I couldn't have chosen a more fulfilling profession. It's incredibly rewarding watching a person's face light up when I fit them with hearing aids and sound becomes a part of life again. Offering that experience to someone who thought hearing aids were financially out of reach-it doesn't get any better than that!" She said, "It is so gratifying for donors, also. There's no better feeling than to help someone in need with a gift that makes an immediate and lasting impact on their lives. It's a win-win!" In fact, Dr. Smith has requested that her own family members make donations to the Foundation this year in lieu of Christmas and birthday gifts to her. Dr. Smith said that just like with any charitable gift, a donation to JAHF can be used as a tax deduction. "We mail acknowledgement letters for both monetary gifts and technology donations with a dollar value assigned to the gift based on the brand, style, and age of the hearing aid. The letter can be used as a receipt for tax purposes."
The Foundation is pleased to announce that on March 16, it officially begins accepting applications from those who wish to be considered to receive hearing aids," Dr. Johnson said. The application requires documentation of financial need such as recent tax returns and paycheck stubs. "We also want to get to know the potential recipient better so we may wish to talk to the applicant," she said. The Foundation review committee takes each person's circumstances into account and seeks to help as many as possible.
Dr. Johnson also said that if a person is ineligible for aid through JAHF, Johnson Audiology will seek to work with them in other ways. "We have many avenues for helping a person get the hearing technology they need. For instance, Johnson Audiology verifies every patient's health insurance benefits. Many policies have programs for hearing aid technology, and the policyholder doesn't even realize it. We help people take advantage of the benefits they have coming to them through their policy. Also, a great organization-the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation-is an opportunity for residents of Georgia who are in need of assistance with hearing care. For years, Johnson Audiology has partnered with the Lighthouse Foundation to get people into the hearing technology they need."
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 466 million people worldwide are affected by disabling hearing loss and that number will soar to more than 900 million by 2050. In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified hearing loss as the third most common chronic physical condition confronting Americans today. Dr. Johnson said, "Clearly, organizations that make hearing technology available for people will be an ongoing need as we move into the future. A gift to the Johnson Audiology Hearing Foundation is a way we can all do our part."
To apply for help through JAHF or to make a contribution, visit www.johnsonaudiology.com/foundation or call 423.713.5266.