You are not alone. And neither are they.
With demand for our programmes increasing, your support this Hearing Awareness Month enables us to reach the schools ready to take part in the school screening, the villages askings for visits, and the communities in need of support — ensuring care arrives when it's needed most.
Your donation during our March appeal helps Deaf and hard of hearing New Zealanders feel supported, connected, and heard.
Because hearing loss doesn't just affect ears. It affects confidence, connection, learning, and wellbeing. And too many people still face it alone.
Your gift today powers life-changing hearing health programmes across Aotearoa.
Donate through online banking
Account name: The National Foundation for the Deaf Incorporated
Bank Account Number: 12-3011-0519936-51
Reference: Your name OR Supporter ID
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Donate to the Hearing Awareness Month Appeal
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Why this matters
Hearing loss is common in New Zealand - 1 in 6 Kiwis are affected by hearing loss.
But the support people need is still out of reach for many.
- Children are listening at unsafe levels and don’t know the risks.
- Teenagers miss early signs of hearing damage.
- Adults lose confidence at work and in social spaces.
- Older people become isolated, often without realising hearing loss is the cause.
When hearing loss goes unsupported, people don’t just miss sounds. They miss conversations, opportunities, and connection.
No one should feel invisible or alone because of hearing loss.
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The solution
Thanks to supporters like you, change is already happening.
Your generosity funds practical, human-centred programmes that support people at every stage of life — from early prevention to lifelong connection.
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Safe listening and early detection
- 40% of teens in our school screening data listen at unsafe levels.
- 22% report ringing in their ears, a warning sign of hearing damage.
Early prevention starts in preschools with our Sound Monkey, now used in over 260 preschools.
Later, many children are supported through our Year 9 School Hearing Screening programme, which has grown from 5 schools in 2020 to 88 in 2025.
But schools are still waiting.
Your donation will help us reach 100 schools this year - and beyond.
Read more about the urgency of rolling out the Year 9 school screening to more schools.
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Accessibility and inclusion
For adults, hearing loss can quietly shrink life, at home, at work and in the community.
Through the Hearing Aid Fund, more than 185 people have received support to access hearing aids — restoring not just sound, but confidence and belonging.
Our Hearing Accredited Workplace Programme has grown 140% since 2021, helping employers create environments where hearing loss is understood and supported.
We support workplaces in becoming hearing loss aware and in becoming a more accessible and inclusive workplace.
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Connection and wellbeing for older New Zealanders
Hearing loss is one of the biggest — and most overlooked — drivers of isolation in later life.
Our Retirement Village Outreach Programme grew from 15 villages in 2023 to 91 in 2025.
Yet in 2025, 93% of residents screened failed their hearing test.
With hearing loss now also recognised as one of the most significant modifiable risk factors for dementia in elderlies and with nearly 1 in 3 New Zealanders over 65 experiencing hearing loss, early intervention is not just helpful, it is critical.
With your support we want to deliver our hearing health programme in 140 villages in 2026, reminding older New Zealanders they are seen, supported, and not alone.
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Building inclusive futures
Listening to communities leads to better outcomes.
In 2025, we piloted two new initiatives with strong impact:
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Game On: Deaf Awareness in Sport — supporting inclusive sports environments
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Pasifika Community Engagement Programme (PCEP)— delivering culturally grounded hearing workshops directly to families
Early insights from the PCEP pilot were striking. Up to 80.7% of the attendees showed signs of potential loss, highlighting both the unmet need and the importance of taking services directly to communities.
Our track record shows that when we identify a gap, we can respond with care, but reaching more people depends on community support.
These programmes, alongside innovation like NZSL avatar technology, reflect a simple truth: when people feel understood, they thrive.
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Real life stories inspiring our work
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This Hearing Awareness Month, take action
Picture Aotearoa where children's education is not impacted by hearing loss, adults stay connected, and older people remain engaged in their communities.
What your gift can do:
- $30 supports a Year 9 hearing screening where problems can be caught early
- $70 brings hearing care and connection to a resident in a retirement village
- $100 helps launch life-changing hearing programmes
Your donation helps ensure no one faces hearing loss alone and reminds you that you’re part of something bigger than a single gift.
Thousands of Kiwis of all ages have been reached. Our community programmes are growing year on year. We’ve seen hundreds of lives changed — because people like you stepped forward.
Online Bank Transfer
Account name: The National Foundation for the Deaf Incorporated
Bank Account Number: 12-3011-0519936-51
Reference: Your name OR Supporter ID
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Donate to the Hearing Awareness Month Appeal
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