Mission Statement

• To teach the public in developing countries about hearing loss by providing books, equipment, teachers, training, and support to the hearing impaired.
• To provide assistive hearing devices to those who cannot afford them, or do not qualify for public funding, in Canada and in developing nations.

About the Founder

André Marcoux, Ph.D., audiologist, adjunct professor and past president of the Canadian Academy of Audiology dedicates himself to the development of research initiatives into the assessment and rehabilitation of hearing loss.

After finishing his Doctorate in Experimental Psychology at Carleton University, André moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, to work as a pediatric specialist, where he became involved in hearing aid research and development. Through his research, innovations in hearing aid design and advances in diagnosing hearing loss came to light.

André was instrumental in initiating an international effort to give assistance to, and supervise, poverty stricken areas of Zambia in Africa. Through the foundation of H.E.A.R. Worldwide, his efforts continue to help schools, community centres, and orphanages for vulnerable children in Lusaka, Zambia.

In Canada, as well as in other parts of the world, adequate hearing healthcare is often inaccessible. Audiologists are often found in larger city centres only. Furthermore, the treatment of hearing loss via hearing prosthesis (hearing aids) is very costly. In Ontario, government funding for hearing aids is considered generous from a national perspective.  However, funding from the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) in Ontario will only cover a maximum of 30% of the price of hearing aids. The main initiative of H.E.A.R. Worldwide is to provide funding for the assessments and treatment for hearing loss for those who have no other means.