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Paul wins cash to help deaf - Bay of Plenty Times - Oct 26 2006 11:00AM - localnews
Paul Higgins' hearing was affected after he had a severe bout of measles at the age of four - and over the years it got worse.
The talented Tauranga researcher and gliding enthusiast had to give up a professional musical career - he was a drummer for singers Suzanne Lynch, Ray Columbus and Suzanne Prentice and others.
But Mr Higgins, who is now training to be an audiologist, wasn't going to let his hearing impairment stand in his way. He was determined that people like him should hear better.
Mr Higgins has been developing a cost-effective and intelligent hearing aid - and his work was recognised in Auckland last night when he was awarded an AMP scholarship, worth $5000.
With the support of international agencies, Mr Higgins has been working on a new process that can more accurately determine an individual's hearing requirement.
His prescribed hearing aid also reduces background noise, thus improving the user's hearing.
Mr Higgins wants to finalise his research and development and start producing his new hearing aid, hoping it will be widely distributed. He was selected as one of 10 outstanding New Zealanders who have shown passion and dedication to achieving their goals in their chosen field.
AMP managing director Greg Camm said the scholarship winners were people willing to follow their dreams and be successful.
Other scholarship winners included student doctor Emma Bagrie, who is developing a virtual ovary; Rochelle Bright who attends New York's Tisch School of Arts and writes music for Broadway shows; the country's No 1 women's squash player Shelley Kitchen; and film-maker Qiujing Wong.
Paul Higgins' hearing was affected after he had a severe bout of measles at the age of four - and over the years it got worse.
The talented Tauranga researcher and gliding enthusiast had to give up a professional musical career - he was a drummer for singers Suzanne Lynch, Ray Columbus and Suzanne Prentice and others.
But Mr Higgins, who is now training to be an audiologist, wasn't going to let his hearing impairment stand in his way. He was determined that people like him should hear better.
Mr Higgins has been developing a cost-effective and intelligent hearing aid - and his work was recognised in Auckland last night when he was awarded an AMP scholarship, worth $5000.
With the support of international agencies, Mr Higgins has been working on a new process that can more accurately determine an individual's hearing requirement.
His prescribed hearing aid also reduces background noise, thus improving the user's hearing.
Mr Higgins wants to finalise his research and development and start producing his new hearing aid, hoping it will be widely distributed. He was selected as one of 10 outstanding New Zealanders who have shown passion and dedication to achieving their goals in their chosen field.
AMP managing director Greg Camm said the scholarship winners were people willing to follow their dreams and be successful.
Other scholarship winners included student doctor Emma Bagrie, who is developing a virtual ovary; Rochelle Bright who attends New York's Tisch School of Arts and writes music for Broadway shows; the country's No 1 women's squash player Shelley Kitchen; and film-maker Qiujing Wong.
