Summary:
A New York audiologist was able to fit a young man with free Widex Moment hearing aids through the company’s community giveback program, transforming his ability to engage socially and professionally.
Key Takeaways:
- Dr Fogel actively gives back to her community, offering free hearing screenings and assistance to those in need.
- Through Widex’s Community Giveback Day, she provided 21-year-old Joe with new hearing aids after financial hardships left him without a working pair.
- Joe experienced a dramatic improvement in his ability to hear at work and socially, reinforcing the life-changing impact of accessible hearing care.
Since opening her Lynbrook, New York-based practice Comprehensive Audiology eight years ago, Esther Fogel, AuD, has made it a point to give back to her community as much as possible—from providing free hearing screenings in local libraries to assisting children with language-based disabilities.
That’s why, when she learned of Widex’s Community Giveback Day through the Partners in Excellence for You Program, she knew it was the perfect fit for her practice. “We try our best to involve ourselves in the community and truly get to know our patients on a personal level,” she says.
Making an Impact for a Patient
Dr Fogel went into the program with a very specific patient in mind: Joe, who at the age of 21 has struggled with hearing loss since high school. While recently studying abroad in college, his hearing aids kept breaking—significantly impacting his ability to be present and engaged. And upon his return, his parents were no longer able to afford a new pair after unexpectedly incurring medical bills for another family member.
Learning of the predicament, Dr Fogel immediately sprang into action. “I planned to help source donations through a local organization, but thanks to Widex’s generosity, I was able to fit him with Widex Moment hearing aids, for free, immediately,” she says. “When I called Joe’s mother to give her the news, she burst into tears. She was speechless, and beyond appreciative. It felt so good to be able to do that for him and help give him what he needs to experience life to the fullest when he’s starting out on his professional journey.”
A New World of Sound
Widex has been a staple in Dr Fogel’s portfolio, and she knew that it would address a lot of the issues that Joe experienced. “Widex offers a rich sound quality with no distortion,” she explains. “I’ve fit it on patients with standard hearing loss, but also on patients with more severe loss like musicians, or those with asymmetry and tinnitus. It’s one of my go-to brands to address a diverse set of patients.”
Dr Fogel explains that Widex Moment hearing aids specifically capture a wider spectrum of sound—from softer sounds to louder sounds, which is ideal for Joe given his young age. “We wanted to give him access to all the sound that we could,” she says. “It’s a much better fit for him than the previous pair he was wearing, and far more reliable.”
At the fitting, Joe was extremely excited and appreciative, noting that he looked forward to starting his new job with a renewed ability to hear. “He can now be confident in assisting customers where he works without asking them to repeat themselves,” Dr Fogel says. “He also felt really excited about participating more in social events. He didn’t quite realize how much he was missing in conversations at school, at work, and among friends.”
Making a Difference
Most of all, Dr Fogel is grateful to be supported in her efforts to give back to the community. “At our follow-up appointment, Joe noted vast improvements in his ability to hear both at work and socially,” she says. “And learning that I could truly make a difference in his life is what I do this for.”
Featured Image: Esther Fogel, AuD, with 21-year-old patient Joe, who she fit with free Widex Moment hearing aids as part of Widex’s Community Giveback Day. Photo: Widex
