The Ephphatha 8 Foundation was organized to make hearing healthcare more accessible for people in Cleburne, Texas, and surrounding areas while advancing education and science. The foundation exists solely for charitable, educational and scientific purposes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Ephphatha 8 Foundation envisions a community where people’s lives are transformed by the impact of hearing. To serve that vision,the foundation provides services and technologies that treat hearing loss, as well as community-wide education and support related to hearing loss.
Untreated hearing loss is a serious issue. The longer it is sustained, the more damage is done and the harder it is to restore. Science also shows that untreated hearing loss adversely affects overall health, contributing greatly to cognitive decline, mental illness and falls in the elderly. People often wait years before purchasing their first hearing aids, on average seven years. The reason is most likely due to cost, though denial and stigma play a part.
Cost is a huge deterrent for treating hearing loss, even among the middle-class. Consequently, it can be very difficult for those of lesser means to seek treatment, especially Medicare recipients–whose age makes them most susceptible to experience hearing loss. According to the CDC, hearing loss is considered the third most common chronic physical condition in the US, more prevalent than diabetes and cancer, and yet Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of hearing aids.
From increasing awareness to easing financial burden, the Ephphatha 8 Foundation strives to make hearing healthcare accessible for all people in our community. Through raising awareness and building opportunities, the foundation wants to amplify the impact of hearing on our lives and our communities.
To learn more about hearing loss, visit Education.