Hearing aid manufacturer Oticon has opened the call for nominations for its 25th annual Oticon Focus on People Awards, seeking nominees who are helping to erase stigmas and transform the world for people with hearing loss, the company says.

The Oticon Focus on People Awards program aims to elevate the voices and efforts of individuals reshaping attitudes and opening doors for people with hearing loss, according to the company. Nominees will join a legacy of individuals of all ages who refuse to be defined by hearing loss and of professionals who work tirelessly to improve their care.

“For 25 years, we’ve been inspired by the unique stories of our Focus on People applicants who have pushed past and torn down outdated notions of what it’s like to live with hearing loss,” says Jacob Torpe Winter, VP of marketing for Oticon. “We’ve celebrated teachers, firefighters, athletes, students, hearing care professionals and countless others. As we open nominations once again, we invite you to join us in honoring the visionaries, the change-makers and the unsung heroes who are making a positive difference for people with hearing loss.”

Nominations for the Oticon Focus on People Awards are being accepted online until Sept. 15, 2023, in four categories:

  • Student Standouts — For children and young adults with hearing loss, ages 6-25, who are proving that nothing, especially hearing loss, can stand in their way.
  • Adult Trailblazers — For people 18 and older with hearing loss who refuse to let it define what is possible.
  • Hearing Loss Champions — For adults 25 and older, with or without hearing loss, who parent, educate, serve or support the hearing loss community.
  • Heroic Hearing Care Professionals — For hearing care practitioners, with or without hearing loss, who go “above and beyond” to open doors of opportunity and provide exceptional care to people with hearing loss.

Following the close of nominations, Oticon will select three finalists in each category and open online voting to allow the community to determine the first-, second- and third-place winners. All winners will receive cash awards and national recognition.

Further reading: Oticon Funds Sertoma Scholarships for Students with Hearing Loss

First-place winners will receive a $2,500 cash prize and a $1,000 donation to a charity of their choice. First-place winners with hearing loss in the Student Standouts, Adult Trailblazers,he and Hearing Loss Champions categories will also receive a pair of Oticon hearing aids with BrainHearing technology.

For more information on the Oticon Focus on People Awards or to nominate yourself or someone you know, visit Oticon.com/FOP. Submissions close on Sept. 15, 2023.

Logo: Oticon