“With support, the child will develop better”: six-year-old Katya from Kharkiv receives state-of-the-Art hearing aids from the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation

Six-year-old Katya from Kharkiv recently received cutting-edge hearing aids provided by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation. Katya was born a healthy child, but the stress caused by the full-scale war took a toll on her health, leading to frequent illnesses. Over time, her parents noticed that she was having difficulty hearing. Medical examinations confirmed that Katya needed hearing aids to improve her quality of life and development.

“My sister discovered the Foundation online while searching for help for children with hearing impairments who were living in war zones,” explains Katya’s mother, Viktoria. “We are so grateful for the assistance because the cost was far beyond what we could afford. These hearing aids are crucial for Katya’s development, as her audiologist explained, helping her avoid challenges with speech as she grows.”

Katya started first grade this year. She is a bright and active child who loves dancing, singing, and interacting with others. According to Alina Soloviova, an audiometrist at the “Hearing Centre,” Katya’s hearing loss is not severe, but her speech clarity is a key concern.

“The model of hearing aids we selected for Katya is specifically designed to address this issue. It helps her better distinguish certain sounds, which will significantly improve her speech. We’ve been collaborating with the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation for a long time and are deeply grateful for their support. Their help is always swift, and the hearing aids they provide are perfectly matched to each child’s needs,” says Soloviova.

The hearing aid programme is part of the project “Rinat Akhmetov to Children. Now I Can Hear.” It offers assistance to children under the age of seven with hearing impairments who live in or have been displaced from communities affected by combat, occupation, or encirclement. To date, more than 230 children have benefited from this vital initiative.

If you know a child who may need hearing aids, you can contact the Foundation through their free hotline at 0 (800) 509 001 (Monday to Friday) or send a message via Facebook Messenger: https://m.me/AkhmetovFDU