Starkey Hearing Institute
Educating community-based providers across the globe to be the access to hearing healthcare in their communities.
Teaching to Meet Great Need
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized that one of the greatest barriers to hearing health is a shortage of trained professionals. In 2016, the Starkey Hearing Foundation took the first steps to address the dire shortage of hearing healthcare professionals, by establishing and opening the first of many Starkey Hearing Institutes in Lusaka, Zambia.
The institute’s groundbreaking hands-on training program is designed to meet not only the current ear and hearing care needs across the globe, but also to prepare a new generation of professionals for the future.
Community Based
Students who come to train at the Institute, are motivated because of a lack of hearing healthcare access in their already established vocation such as nurses, clinicians, special education, or teachers.
Students see this gap and are motivated to make a difference in hearing access and health in their community, elevating their passion and purpose through the Starkey Hearing Institute training program.
By elevating the skills and training in community-based providers, those graduates return to their home countries and make an immediate impact with the many needing individuals in their communities. Patients receiving this care, embrace the gift of hearing with confidence knowing a provider is within their community for continual and consistent service and care throughout the years of their hearing health journey.
Mapping Alumni Providing Hearing Health Care Worldwide
From its establishment in 2016, 103 students have graduated from Starkey Hearing Institute Zambia and continued their hearing health care from 19 African countries.
In 2024 we excitedly announced the opening of our second Starkey Hearing Institute location in Manila, Philippines in connection to the University of Santo Thomas. By the end of the year, we welcome the first graduating class of 33 students in this South Pacific region!
We know that with every year, each graduate will return to their home communities to establish or improve the hearing health care services within their health systems.
Curriculum
Modules include: Professional Considerations, WFA® Community-Based Hearing Healthcare, Auditory Sciences, Introduction to Hearing Loss and Hearing Instruments, Audiometric Assessment, Amplification and Fitting Techniques, Ear Impressions and Earmolds, Counseling and Follow-up Care, Public Health Training and Primary Ear and Hearing Care.
Inspired by the success of the flagship Starkey Hearing Institute and its graduates who return to their countries and communities as hearing healthcare champions, Starkey Hearing Foundation is committed to opening two more institutes in the next five years.
Give the Gift of Hearing
Help us continue to spread the gift of hearing around the globe and create the next generation of hearing healthcare leaders through the Starkey Hearing Institute, a program of Starkey Hearing Foundation.
