Osmond gives inspiration to those suffering from hearing loss
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| Osmond gives inspiration to those suffering from hearing loss BY CALEB SHEAFFER STAFF WRITER 05/13/2008 |
WILKES-BARRE — Less than a week after Davy Jones came to Wilkes-
Barre, a second celebrity visited with a positive message, this time for
educators, therapists and those who live with hearing loss.
Justin Osmond, son of Merrill and Mary Osmond of the Osmond Family,
came Monday to Genetti’s Hotel & Conference Center to speak about his
hearing loss as the keynote speaker of a conference hosted by Luzerne
Intermediate Unit 18.
The conference, titled “Hear Now & Forever,” featured an exhibit hall with
40 vendors and presenters, and was attended by about 300 people who
work with those affected by hearing loss — educators, parents, therapists,
emergency responders, community members and nurses.
Osmond suffered hearing loss because he was born with a hereditary
problem, but he wasn’t diagnosed until he was almost 2 years old. He is
the spokesman for the Starkey Hearing Foundation, a group that
promotes hearing health awareness and donates hearing aids to
underprivileged children.
Since 2000, the Starkey Hearing Foundation distributed 255,000 hearing
aids worldwide, averaging about 30,000 hearing aids a year. Osmond
discussed how his hearing loss affected his life, and stressed his
positive attitude helped him overcome his hearing problems.
“I believe we all have something we wish we did not have,” Osmond told
the audience, noting how his hearing loss was emphasized growing up in
a famous musical family. “In my mind’s eye, I was thinking I have every
right to be bitter.”
Seven members of Osmond’s family are affected by hearing loss, and
Osmond related how the group started singing to raise money to buy new
sets of hearing aids for two of his uncles. This led to the creation of the
Children’s Miracle Network.
As a child, Osmond had difficulty in school, and he used to get up every
morning at 5:30 to practice his speech and reading. He used to sit in the
front of the classroom, paying full attention so he could perform as well as
he wanted in his classes. This eagerness in the classroom, along with
his oversized hearing aids, caused the other children to ridicule him.
“I used to flush (the hearing aids) down the toilet,” Osmond said. “I had a
hard time with them growing up. I had that stigma.”
Throughout his life, Osmond overcame many challenges, such as
learning how to speak and succeed in school, but he says his greatest
accomplishment was learning to play the violin. Osmond was able to do
this because of his mother’s tireless dedication to teaching him. While
playing violin, Osmond has trouble keeping the beat because his
intonation is bad. Osmond watches the other instrumentalists’ bows, and
when the bows go up and down, this lets him know the song’s tempo.
“I may have a hearing loss, but the hearing loss does not have me,”
Osmond said, encouraging the audience. “Accept it, but don’t let it control
you. Don’t let it get in the way of your dreams and aspirations.”
Sue Zerfoss, the program coordinator at the LIU, said the topics covered
at the conference were teaching language and speech to children with
hearing loss, learning how to protect hearing, and teaching emergency
responders how to deal with people who suffered hearing loss.
Barbara Beard, a member of the state advisory council of the Hearing
Loss Association, said that events like the conference help inform the
public about her organization and new advances in hearing loss
technology. The Hearing Loss Association is a national support and
advocacy group that hosts monthly meetings for those affected by hearing
loss. Beard, 71, of Hershey is affected by hearing loss and, for the last 14
years, has worn a cochlear implant. Beard communicates by reading lips
and using the implant, which she calls a miracle.
“What we are trying to do is get the word out, to let people know what we
can do to help people with hearing loss,” Beard said.
Also at the event, Ashley Zerfoss, a 16-year-old junior at Dallas High
School, presented an $800 check to Osmond and the Starkey Foundation.
As part of a project at school, she wrote a children’s book, and gave the
proceeds from the book sales to the charity organization.
Osmond graciously accepted the check, and called Zerfoss a hero for her
efforts.
csheaffer@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2083
Barre, a second celebrity visited with a positive message, this time for
educators, therapists and those who live with hearing loss.
Justin Osmond, son of Merrill and Mary Osmond of the Osmond Family,
came Monday to Genetti’s Hotel & Conference Center to speak about his
hearing loss as the keynote speaker of a conference hosted by Luzerne
Intermediate Unit 18.
The conference, titled “Hear Now & Forever,” featured an exhibit hall with
40 vendors and presenters, and was attended by about 300 people who
work with those affected by hearing loss — educators, parents, therapists,
emergency responders, community members and nurses.
Osmond suffered hearing loss because he was born with a hereditary
problem, but he wasn’t diagnosed until he was almost 2 years old. He is
the spokesman for the Starkey Hearing Foundation, a group that
promotes hearing health awareness and donates hearing aids to
underprivileged children.
Since 2000, the Starkey Hearing Foundation distributed 255,000 hearing
aids worldwide, averaging about 30,000 hearing aids a year. Osmond
discussed how his hearing loss affected his life, and stressed his
positive attitude helped him overcome his hearing problems.
“I believe we all have something we wish we did not have,” Osmond told
the audience, noting how his hearing loss was emphasized growing up in
a famous musical family. “In my mind’s eye, I was thinking I have every
right to be bitter.”
Seven members of Osmond’s family are affected by hearing loss, and
Osmond related how the group started singing to raise money to buy new
sets of hearing aids for two of his uncles. This led to the creation of the
Children’s Miracle Network.
As a child, Osmond had difficulty in school, and he used to get up every
morning at 5:30 to practice his speech and reading. He used to sit in the
front of the classroom, paying full attention so he could perform as well as
he wanted in his classes. This eagerness in the classroom, along with
his oversized hearing aids, caused the other children to ridicule him.
“I used to flush (the hearing aids) down the toilet,” Osmond said. “I had a
hard time with them growing up. I had that stigma.”
Throughout his life, Osmond overcame many challenges, such as
learning how to speak and succeed in school, but he says his greatest
accomplishment was learning to play the violin. Osmond was able to do
this because of his mother’s tireless dedication to teaching him. While
playing violin, Osmond has trouble keeping the beat because his
intonation is bad. Osmond watches the other instrumentalists’ bows, and
when the bows go up and down, this lets him know the song’s tempo.
“I may have a hearing loss, but the hearing loss does not have me,”
Osmond said, encouraging the audience. “Accept it, but don’t let it control
you. Don’t let it get in the way of your dreams and aspirations.”
Sue Zerfoss, the program coordinator at the LIU, said the topics covered
at the conference were teaching language and speech to children with
hearing loss, learning how to protect hearing, and teaching emergency
responders how to deal with people who suffered hearing loss.
Barbara Beard, a member of the state advisory council of the Hearing
Loss Association, said that events like the conference help inform the
public about her organization and new advances in hearing loss
technology. The Hearing Loss Association is a national support and
advocacy group that hosts monthly meetings for those affected by hearing
loss. Beard, 71, of Hershey is affected by hearing loss and, for the last 14
years, has worn a cochlear implant. Beard communicates by reading lips
and using the implant, which she calls a miracle.
“What we are trying to do is get the word out, to let people know what we
can do to help people with hearing loss,” Beard said.
Also at the event, Ashley Zerfoss, a 16-year-old junior at Dallas High
School, presented an $800 check to Osmond and the Starkey Foundation.
As part of a project at school, she wrote a children’s book, and gave the
proceeds from the book sales to the charity organization.
Osmond graciously accepted the check, and called Zerfoss a hero for her
efforts.
csheaffer@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2083