300 citizens benefit from Crown Prince’s hearing initiative

AMMAN — Around 300 patients have benefited from part of HRH Crown Prince Hussein's “Hearing Without Borders” initiative, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Tuesday.

As part of the initiative, a specialised team from Germany's Aalen University helped the 300 patients by treating their hearing disabilities, according to Petra.

In an interview with Petra, Professor Annette Limberger described the Crown Prince's initiative as "unique and unprecedented", saying that hearing impaired persons undergo surgeries or given special equipment, including cochlear implants, and aid to help them live safely and communicate with others.

 Launching the initiative in December 2014, Crown Prince Hussein noted some 300 children in Jordan are born with hearing disabilities every year and they need help to be able to hear and speak. He added that the chance for these children to hear and speak normally is great if there is adequate medical intervention before they are six years old.

According to the Crown Prince’s website, the vision behind the project is to “have a Jordan free from hearing disabilities, and the mission is to provide all support and assistance for the rehabilitation of deaf children who receive cochlear implants, to provide the needed language therapy and training for these children and to create community awareness on the cause of deafness.”