In our ideas4ears children’s invention contest we asked the next generation of inventors to use their creativity to come up with solutions for people living with hearing loss. The contest is organized by MED-EL (Global innovation leader in hearing loss solutions).
Overall, 341 children worldwide participated from 19 different countries and from these entries the top 9 invention ideas were chosen.
Betty’s (8) ingenious idea was to create a special custom helmet for RONDO that Cochlear Implant (CI) users can wear with their RONDO processor while riding a bike. Named ‘Betty’s Brilliant Bike Helmet’ she was inspired by her father Tom who is a CI user. She visited MED-EL with her mother Sadie and older brother Hal.
ideas4ears, which searches for the next generation of inventors of hearing technology, grand prize included a two-day winners’ trip to Innsbruck, Austria to provide the children and their families with the unique opportunity to tour the production facility and meet MED-EL’s many inventors.
Impressions from the trip of a lifetime!
Betty with mum Sadie and Konstantin, her Dads cochlear implant maker
Betty and Jaylin discovering how the internal cochlear implant device works
Having fun at the Audioversum Science Center in Innsbruck, Austria
With her winning invention idea, Betty’s Brilliant Bike Helmet
Innovation – the basis for cochlear implant progress
Innovation is essential when exploring ways to improve the lives of those with hearing loss and the ideas4ears competition has raised awareness of the benefits of hearing technology.
Whilst celebrating children’s creativity, ideas4ears aimed to engage parents to participate in an interactive activity with their children to improve the whole family’s understanding of the challenges associated with hearing loss and deafness as well as the benefits of treatment.
If you are worried about the hearing loss of a family member or for your own hearing loss, take the free hearing test here or contact ideas4ears@medel.com to receive a free information package on hearing and the solutions available.
Alternatively, you can contact your local MED-EL clinic to speak with our caring staff who can advise you about the hearing services available in your area.
For more information on the contest, visit: www.ideas4ears.org/meet-the-inventors/ and www.facebook.com/ideas4ears.
All images ©2019 MED-EL. Please contact ideas4ears@medel.com for permission to use.
