Bittner, Charles (Chick) and Marie C. Advanced Hearing Technology and Therapy Endowment Fund
The Charles (Chick) and Marie C. Bittner Advanced Hearing Technology and Therapy Endowment Fund for The University of Akron’s School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology was established in November 2017 by the estate of Charles and Marie Bittner. The endowment will support the University’s Audiology and Speech Center, with emphasis placed on assisting children and adults. The Center provides a full range of clinical speech, language and hearing services for children and adults in the greater Akron-Canton area, the University community and across northeast Ohio.
The Charles (Chick) and Marie C. Bittner Advanced Hearing Technology and Therapy Endowment Fund will provide financial support, at no cost to and based on financial need of the recipient, for advanced hearing technology as determined by the director of the Hearing Aid Center or appropriate Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology leadership, such as the director of the school and/or clinic specialties. This fund may cover equipment and therapy, as well.
Chick and Marie would like the focus of the fund to be on the listening and spoken language development of young children with hearing loss. To be successful, these children need early identification and diagnosis, the use of advanced hearing technology (i.e., digital hearing aids, cochlear implants, FM systems), early intervention and the active involvement of their parents or caregivers – if they are going to develop their communication to the fullest.
Funds may also be used for adult services that can include:
- Hearing Evaluations
- Hearing Aids
- Auditory Processing Evaluations
- Custom Hearing Protection
- Specialty Ear Molds
- Support and Community Services
- Hearing Assistive Technology
- Tinnitus Assessment and Treatment
- Audiologic Treatment