Gil
Hanke, a speech-language pathologist from Nacogdoches, Texas, conducts
hearing tests for children at a school for the deaf in Haiti. Hanke led a
five-member team from the United Methodist Church's Texas Annual
(regional) Conference that tested 360 children and a few adults, and
fitted 107 children with hearing aids donated by people from across the
United States. A UMNS photo courtesy of Gil Hanke. Photo number 03-217,
Accompanies UMNS #332, 6/23/03
No Long Caption Available for this Story
A five-member team from the Texas Annual (regional)
Conference recently brought the gift of hearing to children enrolled in
five schools for the deaf in Haiti.
Gil Hanke, a speech-language
pathologist from Nacogdoches, led a team that tested 360 children and a
few adults, and fitted 107 children with hearing aids donated by people
from across the United States.
"For the first time in my 15
years of going to Haiti, I can honestly say that at least some of the
country has gotten better in the last year," Hanke said. "It still has a
long way to go."
The 2003 team, which visited Haiti June 1-7,
consisted of audiologists Frank Brister, Sally Muhlbach, and Ric
Gauthier. Gina Wood, a deaf educator with signing skills, also
accompanied the group.
On their Sunday arrival, the team members
sorted out the materials. "Part of this task was to estimate the number
of hearing aids each school would need," Hanke said. "These estimates
turned out to be fairly accurate, and we were able to use all the 107
hearing aids we had brought."
Their first stop was at a school
several hours away at St. Marc. "We were warmly welcomed and set up in
the same pattern that would be repeated at the other schools," Hanke
said. "I visually checked their ears and used a Tympanometer to check
the function of their middle ear. Very few of the children had any
middle ear infections or disorders. Next, Gauthier or Mulhbach tested
each child. This testing was not to see if they were hearing impaired -
we knew that already. We were looking for residual hearing; some
response of at least two frequencies in an ear."
Those with
residual hearing were sent to Brister, who put on a hearing aid and a
temporary ear mold. Once the team was sure the children were benefiting
from the hearing aids, Brister and Wood made ear-mold impressions to be
taken back to the United States so custom ear molds could be made. Once
the impressions were made, the children returned to their classes,
hearing better than ever before.
A Haitian woman who traveled
with the team on the first day showed up the second day at a school in
Port-au-Prince, the capital. Hanke thanked her for coming and for
helping organize the paperwork for the children.
"I came to see
their eyes; I've never seen anything like it," she told the team. "I
love to watch their eyes when they hear for the first time."
"Each
day was another school; each day another set of blessings," said Hanke.
"In the five schools we visited this year, we tested 360 children and a
few adults. Most of the adults we tested were teachers who work in the
same school where they were taught as children."
The team left a year's supply of batteries at each of the schools. Eveready donated the batteries.
"With
Gina's signing skills and Ric's language skills (as a Haitian American
who speaks fluent Creole), we were able provide needed information to
the students, parents and teachers about how to care for and get the
most use from their new hearing aids," Hanke reported.
"The
need is so great, and it is clear that the only chance these children
have of having a hearing aid is from this team," Hanke said. "When we
leave, the Haitians make us promise to come back. We know that others
make similar promises, but many never return."
The team leader
regards his trips as more than giving hearing aids. "One of my
missionary mentors taught me on my first trip to Haiti that the single
most precious gift you bring is the gift of hope. In Haiti, hope is in
very short supply."
The team members see God's hand and grace in
the faces of those whom they serve, he said. "We also realize how gifted
we are, and how gifted those we serve in Haiti are. It helps sort out
what is really important on this journey of life. All these factors make
this annual trip something special in our lives."
Units of
United Methodist Men, United Methodist Women, an Eagle Scout project,
churches, districts and individuals, donated the hearing aids. Hanke is
the U.S. national president of United Methodist Men.
The team
will continue to need hearing aids of any kind, style and condition.
Behind-the-ear hearing aids will be reconditioned; all the others will
be sent to the Starkey Foundation, which gives the team credit for
future purchases of reconditioned hearing aids. Gifts given now will be
used in future trips to Haiti.
Hope of Hearing is supported by
the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church through its Partners
in Mission Program. A national affiliate of United Methodist Men, the
team is also supported by three Rotary Clubs in the Nacogdoches area.
Scores of individuals and churches also send funds and hearing aids.
To contribute hearing aids for future trips, contact Hanke at 803 Wildwood, Nacogdoches, TX 75961, or ghanke@sfasu.edu.
# # #
*Peck is the communications coordinator for the Nashville, Tenn.,-based Commission on United Methodist Men.
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