06-02-2006
The House Ear Institute (HEI) premiered a new walk-through educational exhibit, “Journey Through the Human Ear,” at its 3-day hearing health fair held at The Grove on May 5-7, 2006. The free exhibit provided the public with a larger-than-life 3D display of the auditory system, complete with sound effects, text, and super-graphics to illustrate how the auditory system functions, common hearing health issues, and tips on protecting your hearing health.
The Institute’s “Ear Bud” mascot, recently featured in hearing awareness spots on MTV, was at the fair to greet the thousands of visitors entering the ear exhibit, getting free hearing screenings or gathering the latest information on hearing health from HEI scientists and staff.
The exhibit is scheduled to go on display in the atrium lobby at the Institute’s facility in Los Angeles, and will be available as a touring exhibit for science museums and other educational venues.
The hearing health fair, called “Hearing Health Days,” was one of three events held in May by HEI to celebrate its 60th anniversary as a center for hearing research and to raise awareness of hearing health issues for Better Hearing and Speech Month. Other May events included the Institute’s “Hollywood Auction for Hearing Health,” which offered Hollywood collectibles for bidding on eBay, and a fundraising dinner. Jay Leno, Rush Limbaugh, Debbie Reynolds, Florence Henderson, Nanette Fabray, Jayne Meadows, and other stars attended these events, which together raised a total of $1.1 million for hearing health research and education programs at the Institute.
