Helping Orlando Hear better!
Join us in making a difference in our community today at HARP Orlando
Who We Are - Harporlando
Our Story
HARP is a hearing aid recycling program designed to help uninsured patients obtain a hearing device. We became inspired to start this organization after seeing our grandmother suffer from severe hearing loss and dementia. She became more disconnected and isolated. We began to wonder if hearing aids could have helped slow or even prevent her decline? That question sparked what has now become a true passion project. In a short time, we’ve learned so much, and we hope to one day expand our efforts to reach even more people. Every dream has to start somewhere … and this is just the beginning.
Our Approach
Our team has a collaborative approach towards bringing awareness and treatment of hearing loss. We started this endeavor in 2023 and partnered with the Leo Club of Orlando to collect hearing aids and raise money. Our organization has grown to incorporate the resources of ENTSA, Grace Medical Clinic, and UCF Department of Speech and Audiology. We are excited that HARP can work together with these local organizations to make this process effective and convenient.
Our Vision
We hope to bridge the gap between patients who cannot afford hearing aids and provide improved quality of life and cognitive function through better hearing. Through state funding, grants have been awarded to Grace Medical and UCF Speech and Communication to help bring awareness, access and treatment of hearing loss for those in need and promote healthy hearing.
About Harporlando
Problems with Hearing loss
Communication Difficulties: Individuals may struggle to understand conversations, leading to social withdrawal and isolation.
Cognitive Impact: Hearing loss can contribute to cognitive decline and is associated with conditions like dementia.
Emotional Challenges: Individuals may experience frustration, depression, and anxiety due to difficulty in communication and social interactions.
Safety Issues: Hearing loss can impede the ability to detect alarms, sirens, and other important sounds, leading to safety risks.
Workplace Challenges: Hearing difficulties can affect performance, leading to misunderstandings and reduced productivity.
Why HARP?
Awareness: Many people are not aware of the importance of hearing as a component of being healthy.
Affordability: The cost of hearing aids can be a significant barrier; they can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per unit.
Accessibility: Not all individuals have access to audiologists or clinics where they can get fitted for hearing aids.
Availability: There is a lack of hearing aids being recycled which may lead them to be discarded or left to waste. Hearing aids can last up to 10 years and can be reprogrammed to fit the needs of another person.
Advocacy: HARP can provide support to uninsured people who suffer from hearing loss and bring together sectors of the health care community such as ENTSA, UCF, LEO club and Grace medical.
Our Partners
Real Experiences, Real Impact
HEAR FROM OUR PATIENTS
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