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Helping hearing-impaired children a mission | hattiesburgamerican.com | Hattiesburg American
Dr. Margaret "Peggy" Carlin, professor emeritus in audiology at the University of Southern Mississippi, began going to Honduras nine years ago as part of a medical mission trip.
Due to her extensive background in audiology, she gave free hearing tests and hearing aids to the hearing-impaired and worked with the Tegucigalpa's School for the Deaf (CIRE). When the team moved their mission to another city in Honduras, Carlin saw the continued need in Tegucigalpa.
"I felt a need to go back to the same place and learn more about the people, and gradually they began to understand that I have a commitment to them and will return to the school," Carlin said. "Many mission programs go once and then disappear, but I really wanted to establish a relationship and see a difference in people's lives."
Carlin decided to partner with the Greater PineBelt Community Foundation to create a fund she called, Hearing Maximized.
The fund's purpose is to provide evaluation and rehabilitation of hearing-impaired individuals using hearing aids and the improvement of the auditory environment. Money from this fund also will offer students training and professional opportunities.
Carlin and a team travel to Honduras approximately twice a year to bring equipment and supplies to the school and administer free hearing screenings.
On a recent trip, Carlin and her team, made up of students from St. Thomas, a doctoral student, and another professor, traveled to Tegucigalpa to help the school prepare for a new classroom with auditory amplification technology allowing for optimal access to the spoken word. The team brought 800 pounds of equipment to the school and assisted in construction projects including soundproofing the suite for hearing tests, building cabinets to lock and store expensive equipment and painting a mural for the children.
"They need so much help compared to our schools," she said. "These children are handicapped in an environment that doesn't have a lot of money, jobs, or resources available - they are doubly handicapped."
Children begin attending Tegucigalpa's School for the Deaf at age 5 and continue until age 13 or 14.
Enrollment is between 125 to 160 students. Due to the lack of funds and qualified teachers, the students have to attend school in shifts.
The day is split into two sessions with instructors teaching one group of students in the morning and another in the afternoon. When and if textbooks are available, the students share (books are especially scarce in rural areas).
Dr. Margaret "Peggy" Carlin, professor emeritus in audiology at the University of Southern Mississippi, began going to Honduras nine years ago as part of a medical mission trip.
Due to her extensive background in audiology, she gave free hearing tests and hearing aids to the hearing-impaired and worked with the Tegucigalpa's School for the Deaf (CIRE). When the team moved their mission to another city in Honduras, Carlin saw the continued need in Tegucigalpa.
"I felt a need to go back to the same place and learn more about the people, and gradually they began to understand that I have a commitment to them and will return to the school," Carlin said. "Many mission programs go once and then disappear, but I really wanted to establish a relationship and see a difference in people's lives."
Carlin decided to partner with the Greater PineBelt Community Foundation to create a fund she called, Hearing Maximized.
The fund's purpose is to provide evaluation and rehabilitation of hearing-impaired individuals using hearing aids and the improvement of the auditory environment. Money from this fund also will offer students training and professional opportunities.
Carlin and a team travel to Honduras approximately twice a year to bring equipment and supplies to the school and administer free hearing screenings.
On a recent trip, Carlin and her team, made up of students from St. Thomas, a doctoral student, and another professor, traveled to Tegucigalpa to help the school prepare for a new classroom with auditory amplification technology allowing for optimal access to the spoken word. The team brought 800 pounds of equipment to the school and assisted in construction projects including soundproofing the suite for hearing tests, building cabinets to lock and store expensive equipment and painting a mural for the children.
"They need so much help compared to our schools," she said. "These children are handicapped in an environment that doesn't have a lot of money, jobs, or resources available - they are doubly handicapped."
Children begin attending Tegucigalpa's School for the Deaf at age 5 and continue until age 13 or 14.
Enrollment is between 125 to 160 students. Due to the lack of funds and qualified teachers, the students have to attend school in shifts.
The day is split into two sessions with instructors teaching one group of students in the morning and another in the afternoon. When and if textbooks are available, the students share (books are especially scarce in rural areas).