Songs for Sound Hear the Music Project Sheds Light on Hearing Loss Across the Sunshine State

    FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, January 25, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Songs for Sound, a Nashville-based nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of people living with hearing loss, is making it's way across Florida this month offering free hearing health services to the public.

The Hear the Music Project is a charity mission and mobile multi-room exhibit designed to not only provide free hearing tests, but to help every person navigate hearing healthcare. If someone does not pass a hearing test, they receive information through digital kiosks and can even demo hearing technologies. Industry leaders Cochlear Americas, CapTel, and Phonak sponsor the project.

"Due to lack of awareness and access, less than 5 percent of those able to benefit from a cochlear implant are being treated," said Patricia Trautwein, VP of Marketing for Cochlear Americas. "Cochlear is thrilled to sponsor a program that combines mobile health screenings and music to shed light on the important universal issue of hearing loss, and provide access to information and testing throughout the United States."

Songs for Sound has been helping people with hearing loss access sound since 2010. Jaime Vernon founded the charity after her daughter, Lexi, was born deaf and received the life-changing ability to hear through cochlear implants at 19-months old.

"After years of raising awareness and helping families navigate what can be a frustrating and cost-prohibitive system, we realized we need to do more to reach the people who need our help the most," says Vernon. "We created the Hear the Music Project to target populations where hearing loss is common and often goes undetected - among veterans, senior citizens, and children living near the poverty line."

As a result of this targeted outreach, the Hear the Music Project has an overall referral rate of 45 percent; meaning hearing loss is detected in more than 4 in 10 people screened. This includes 85 percent of veterans, 59 percent of senior citizens, and 29 percent of children. These individuals are counseled on site and referred for further audiology. Songs for Sound follows up with each referral via e-mail with a checklist of next steps and how to navigate hearing healthcare.

"There are many options available today for people of all hearing levels. We encourage everyone to consider their choices so they can make the best decision for their health and lifestyle," says Vernon.

The Hear the Music Project will serve the following community sites in South Florida over the next few weeks:
Jan. 23 Zoo Health Club, Royal Palm Beach, 9am-2pm
Jan. 25 Century Village, West Palm Beach, 10am-3pm
Jan. 26 YMCA of The Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach, 7am-2pm
Jan. 27 YMCA of The Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach, 7am-1pm
Jan 28 Vero Beach Military History Expo, Vero Beach, 9am-5pm
Jan. 29 Vero Beach Military History Expo, Vero Beach, 9am-4pm
Jan. 31 Lauderhill Community YMCA, Lauderhill, 9am-12pm
Jan. 31 Lauderhill Boys & Girls Club, Lauderhill, 2:30pm-7pm
Feb. 1 LA Lee YMCA Family Center, Ft. Lauderdale, 8am-2pm
Feb. 2 Weston YMCA, Weston, 8am-2pm
Feb. 3 Naples Senior Center, Naples, 10am-4pm
Feb. 4 Naples Family Fitness Center/Farmers Market, Naples, 7am-3pm

The project will work its way up the Gulf Coast in February before touring the Southwest and West Coast this spring. For all tour dates, more information or to support Songs for Sound's mission and the hearing loss community, visit http://songsforsound.com/.

About Songs for Sound:
Songs for Sound is a Nashville-based nonprofit organization that believes all people have the right to choose how they hear and communicate with the world around them. The organization serves as a voice for children and adults who experience hearing loss and helps raise awareness of all the options and resources that are available to them. Jamie Vernon founded it in 2010 after her daughter Lexi, who was born deaf, was given the gift of sound and many more opportunities through cochlear implants. Songs for Sound provides education on the different options available to treat hearing loss, raises funds for individuals and families with hard-of-hearing children and lobbies for legislation that makes solutions more affordable and accessible.

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