Success Story

The smile tells the story of the latest development in hearing aids, as 10-year-old Christoph Blum of Karori communicates with his mother, Mrs Lilly Blum, background, with the aid of an Oticon radio transmitter. Helping adjust the aid is Mr Bent Simonsen, international president of the Danish-based Oticon Group, who is in Wellington for the inauguration of the Oticon Foundation of New Zealand.

The Oticon Foundation of New Zealand, the first to be established outside Denmark, will receive all profits from sales of Oticon products in New Zealand, with a special committee, yet to be appointed, distributing the money in grants for research, and for helping the deaf in New Zealand.

The latest aid, demonstrated by Christoph, who has been deaf since birth, weighs about 170 gms (7oz) in total, and will cost about $1000. The aids are a breakthrough in that they allow teachers and children to move freely, and have a range of 30 to 60 metres.

The New Zealand Education Department has ordered 32 of the new units, 16 each for schools for the deaf in Christchurch and Auckland.

The main purpose of the aids, known as the Oticon T15/R15, is not for individual use, but for speech training.

The new Oticon Foundation’s board of trustees is chaired by Wellington solicitor Mr Graham Upton. The other New Zealand member is Mr Phillip D Mason and the secretary is Mr Gavil Underwood, both of Wellington.

At this morning’s inauguration, the board made an initial grant of $5000 to the foundation. Further grants will depend on the amount of profit made by the company.