Staff of Hearing Professionals Center with patient Shawnett Viani
With the media bombardment of material gift suggestions each December, it is easy to overlook the fact that many of our neighbors want only for fundamental blessings we tend to take for granted—such as hearing.
Twenty-two year old Shawnett Viani has rare congenital disorder called Larsen Syndrome. She started losing her hearing when she was three. As a child she was eligible for Medicaid and received hearing aids and regular maintenance, but she outgrew her benefits and was left uninsured.
Lake Highlands -based Hearing Professional Center last month sponsored a holiday hearing-aid donation program, through which Viani received the help she so needed.
As a college student who needs a wheelchair to get around, Viani could not afford the full cost of a set of hearing aids. A friend, Mitzi White heard about the donation program and nominated Viani. The hearing center staff knew right away that she was a perfect candidate.
“She was definitely in need,” says Deborah Price, audiologist and hearing center owner. “She has severe hearing loss in both ears. Her most recent set of hearing aids were quite outdated and she has a hard time hearing her family and friends or the TV … She has had no recent service or follow up care done.”
How does it feel to have her hearing back? “My world has changed,” says Viani via email. “I have been given the gift of hearing.”
