BRIDGE CITY, Texas — A Bridge City audiologist is helping to out Southeast Texas first by giving one lucky person the gift of hearing.
Dr. Brytni Borel says after opening her practice last year she received a free pair of hearing aids through one of her manufacturers and is now ready to pass along the blessing.
Dr. Borel is the owner of Orange County Audiology and Hearing Aids. She tells 12News that hearing aids aren't cheap and depending on what type of insurance you have, they may not even be covered.
Hearing aids can cost anywhere between $4,500 to $7,000.
As a health care provider Dr. Borel wants to make sure everyone is taken care of and giving away a set of hearing aids is the perfect way to do that.
While hearing aids may be small they could be the difference between someone living in silence or hearing a brand new world.
The pair that Dr. Borel is giving away is from the brand ReSound.
"The hearing aids are the high end technology, top of the line hearing aids," said Dr. Borel.
Dr. Borel was gifted the hearing aids from the Denmark based manufacturer. They gift a different private practice doctor a free pair of hearing aids each year.
"I've been working with this manufacturer for the past probably 12 years. So just over time building a relationship with them they said 'hey since you have a private practice this is an opportunity for you to be able to give back to your community'," she said.
Dr. Borel has created a giveaway for the hearing aids for someone who may not be able to afford them.
"Unfortunately they're not cheap. So just to be able to give back to somebody that is in a big need of hearing aids and assistance with that has always been on my heart," Dr. Borel said.
Hearing aids aren't the only thing the winner will get.
"It includes any services associated with the hearing aids. Cleanings, adjustments, if the wires need to be replaced," said Dr. Borel.
She says hearing loss can happen at any age ranging from children to senior citizens. The most common type is called sensorineural, which is caused by nerve damage.
There are some signs to look out for.
- Ringing in the ears
- Misunderstanding words
- Having to ask people to repeat themselves
"Getting things wrong in conversations, having to ask people to repeat themselves, or ringing in the ears," Dr. Borel told 12News.
It's also important to learn ways to keep your ears in good shape.
"Cutting the grass, weed eating, if you work in noisy situations make sure you wear you hearing protection there and coming in for annual hearing screens," she said.
Dr. Borel says there are only two entries for the giveaway currently. It ends on March 18, 2024.
To enter the giveaway you have to send the nominee’s name, age, address, contact information and a reason they deserve to win the ReSound hearing aids to the email ocaudiologytx@gmail.com.
However, to qualify the nominee must 18 years or older and live in Southeast Texas.