The Hear the World Foundation expands its Advisory Board

WARRENVILLE, Ill., April 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hear the World Foundation welcomes three new members, all notable figures from the world of audiology, to its Advisory Board. Distinguished experts Dr. Beatriz Novaes and Dr. Orozimbo A. Costa from Brazil and Andrea Bohnert from Germany were voted onto the Advisory Board in March 2014. With their support, the foundation will be able to further develop its specialist expertise and, in particular, provide an extra boost for its activities in Latin America.

Creating a world in which everyone has the chance to enjoy better hearing and lead a life without limitations – that is the vision of the Swiss-based Sonova Group, a leading provider of hearing solutions. It is on this basis that Sonova set up the nonprofit Hear the World Foundation in 2006, which helps people all over the world who cannot afford or do not have access to audiological care. The foundation particularly supports projects aimed at helping children in need, to give them the chance to develop at an appropriate rate for their age.

Three distinguished audiology experts join the Advisory Board
Dr. Beatriz Novaes is a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. She has been involved in early intervention for people with hearing loss for 30 years and has extensive experience in the fields of audiology and speech therapy. Her research focuses on intervention programs for children with hearing loss, and particularly those from low-income families. Dr. Novaes is one of the co-founders of the Brazilian Academy of Audiology and in 2012 she was awarded the honor of "speech pathologist and audiologist of the year" by the Brazilian Society of Phonoaudiology

Professor Dr. Orozimbo Alves Costa is a physician and ENT specialist. As a senior professor in ENT medicine, he teaches at the Audiological Research Center (HRAC) at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil and supervises students and doctoral candidates. He has also developed a cochlear implantation program for the Brazilian national health service. His main areas of expertise are ENT surgery, cochlear implants, inner ear pathology and pediatric audiology.

Andrea Bohnert is a senior medical technician specializing in function diagnosis. She also teaches this subject in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Disorders at the Mainz University Medical Center in Germany. As well as giving lectures on hearing impairments and hearing aid provision for children at national and international conferences, she is a member of a series of working groups on pediatric audiology both in Germany and at global level. Ms. Bohnert has been working with children with hearing loss for over 30 years. She is also responsible for conducting various studies on topics such as care for children and newborn hearing screening. She is an honorary member of the British Academy of Audiology.

"We are delighted to have gained these three outstanding new members to reinforce the Hear the World Foundation's Advisory Board. With their expertise, they will help us drive forward the foundation's work and, in particular, expand our sphere of activity in Latin America," said Lukas Braunschweiler, President of the Hear the World Foundation and CEO of Sonova.

The functions of the Advisory Board
The Hear the World Foundation's external Advisory Board is responsible for evaluating suitable projects among those that have applied to the Foundation Board for funding. The Advisory Board ensures the independence of the foundation. Current members of the Advisory Board include Professor Dr. Richard Seewald and Professor Dr. John Bamford.

About the Hear the World Foundation
By supporting the charitable Hear the World Foundation, Sonova is campaigning for equal opportunities and a better quality of life for people with hearing loss. As a leading manufacturer of hearing systems, the company feels socially responsible for contributing towards a world where everyone has the chance to enjoy good hearing. For instance, the Hear the World Foundation supports disadvantaged people with hearing loss around the world and gets involved in prevention and providing information. It focuses particularly on projects for children with hearing loss, to enable them to develop at the appropriate rate for their age. More than 70 famous ambassadors, including celebrities such as Placido Domingo, Annie Lennox, Sting and Joss Stone, champion the Hear the World Foundation.

For further information, go to www.hear-the-world.com.

Connect with us at http://www.facebook.com/CanYouHearTheWorld

SOURCE Hear the World Foundation