About the Foundation
Amarillo Hearing Foundation was formed on April 23, 2022. We are a nonprofit organization within the clinical setting of Amarillo Hearing Clinic. Our mission is to provide accessible and affordable amplification options for patients with financial need who are 65 and older and live in the 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle. We understand that hearing loss affects an individual’s ability to actively participate in the world around them.
Our goal is to enhance each candidate’s overall quality of life through increased socialization, communication and stimulation. Our motto comes from Romans 10:17, which reads “faith comes from hearing,” and we aim to provide the greatest hearing healthcare experience possible built around the values of honor, trust and integrity.
Patients interested in receiving services through AHF should contact Amarillo Hearing Clinic to schedule a consultation with our on staff Doctors of Audiology. If recommendations for amplification are made, the patient will review and complete a financial needs assessment through our application process. If approved, AHF will provide funding for treatment and the patient will be fit with amplification.
Facts
We want to partner with seniors in our community to ensure they live the fullest lives possible. Untreated hearing loss can have an impact on cognitive abilities, as illustrated by these statistics:
- Patients with just a mild level of hearing loss are at 2x greater risk of dementia.
- Patients with a moderate level of hearing loss are at 3x greater risk of dementia.
- Patients with severe to profound hearing loss are at 5x greater risk of dementia.
- Hearing loss is associated with an acceleration of cognitive abilities by an average of 6.8 years for every 25 decibels of hearing loss. This information suggests that on average, a 66-year-old with 50% hearing loss would have the approximate brain age of an 80-year-old if their hearing loss is untreated.
- An extensive review for dementia prevention found that 35% of dementia cases could be prevented, with the strongest intervention being treated hearing loss at middle age.
John Hopkins Medicine, (n.d.). The hidden risks of hearing loss.
Our Board of Directors
Maegan Laughlin-Board president and founder
Carey Peavey – Foundation Coordinator
Jay Laughlin- Treasurer
Brie Stryker- Secretary
Lisa Cartrite- Member
Jimmie Kiper- Member
Justin Boyd- Member
Whitney Ball- Member
Sunny Strickland- Member
Brittney Riley- Member
