Most of us are born hearing the sounds of the world in crystal-clear detail. Now, imagine the same experience while wearing three pairs of earmuffs. This isn’t something I need to imagine—it is my reality. I was born with hearing loss. 

After my diagnosis, I persevered through many difficulties in my elementary school years. I underwent four complicated surgeries, each coming with intense side effects and a missed week of school. Although I could only hear half of what my teachers taught, I made sure to fill in the gaps by putting in extra effort. It was challenging, but I was a voracious reader with an insatiable hunger for knowledge.

In sixth grade, when I started wearing a hearing aid, I for the first time heard the sound of AC, the gentle breezes ruffling the trees, and the pitter-patter of my little sister’s soft footsteps as she ran to hug me. I was exuberant to hear
better, but also scared if my classmates would still accept me. My worst fears came true. I was bombarded with questions: “Are you deaf?” No matter how much I tried to explain, my friends didn’t understand and the bullies feasted, zeroing in on my disability. It was so isolating and overwhelming that I began to regard my hearing aid as both a blessing and a curse.

Realizing the stigma and lack of education, I became motivated to improve this.

In sixth grade, I started wearing a hearing aid. I was exuberant to hear better, but at school, my friends didn’t understand and the bullies feasted, zeroing in on my disability. It was so isolating and overwhelming that I began to regard my hearing aid as both a blessing and a curse.

In ninth grade, one number from a WHO report spurred me to action: 1.1 billion young people worldwide at risk for permanent noise-induced hearing loss. Going through the daily challenges of hearing loss motivated me to ensure that other kids didn’t have to face them. After seeing a lack of action to tackle this serious problem in my community, I decided to start 3 Tiny Bones (named after three middle-ear ossicles I was missing) with the aim of destigmatizing hearing loss and educating youth about healthy hearing. 

The issue is not just preventing hearing loss; it is also destigmatizing it. As many members of our team with hearing loss can attest to, they have been bullied and teased for their disability. This is not inclusive and equitable behavior; 3 Tiny Bones is changing this. The root cause of the problem is a lack of hearing loss education—people do not properly understand it. Many have a tendency to assume “deafness,”  even though the disability is much more nuanced. Assistive hearing devices should be treated just like glasses—after all, both help improve certain senses!

3 Tiny Bones is unique in the number of multi-sector partnerships and initiatives we employ to help advance our HEAR mission in order to create more informed, healthier, and more inclusive communities.

We are working directly with the community to destigmatize hearing loss. Our Safe Hearing Zones initiative works with 6 schools to educate thousands of students about hearing inclusiveness & safety, and ensure that music at events is at a safe decibel level. This is one of the first times a program like this has been done at any US school. We engage in community events, such as the Walk4Hearing, where we have educated hundreds through fun activities and given away earplugs. Thousands of people have taken our HEAR Pledge to protect hearing.

We are working with state/national lawmakers to advocate for hearing health and hearing education legislation, which will be the first of its kind and help educate millions of students in PA schools.

We are utilizing an array of digital methods to raise awareness in young people. We maintain an active social media and online presence, which includes engaging videos, eye-catching posters, and informative blog posts. So far, we have produced over 15 videos about different hearing loss topics. We don’t present just the facts; our videos always show important information in creative, fun ways. This allows us to better educate our audience.

Legislative advocacy (also see above question) which has led to trailblazing resolutions recognizing hearing loss advocacy milestones like World Hearing Day and National Protect Your Hearing Month. Successfully advocated for and working with lawmakers on bills in Pennsylvania House and Senate for hearing loss education and ASL funding. This is helping to bring hearing loss into the mainstream and make it a topic taught at schools, which will help to greatly destigmatize it for future generations and change unfounded negative perceptions.

• Produced Noise Hazards video series, posters, video game, and other content viewed over 300,000 times worldwide. This helps destigmatize hearing loss by bringing it to the conversation and makes sure that youth are aware about hearing inclusiveness and healthy hearing habits.
• Partnered with Downingtown Area School District, reaching 10,000+ students, staff, and families. Created Safe Hearing Zones at elementary, middle, and high schools. Safe Hearing Zones are schools that protect students’ hearing at events and teach them about hearing loss and healthy hearing.
• Educating elementary schools students about healthy hearing and hearing loss inclusiveness in fun, creative ways through day-long workshops at their schools

At 3 Tiny Bones, we have a multi-pronged approach to growing our impact: by increasing rassroots presence across the world, and continuing to form and foster high-level partnerships to continue educating hundreds of thousands of people.

Currently, our Safe Hearing Zones initiative is based around 6 Downingtown (PA) schools, but with the success we have seen around the program in its first year, we plan to expand to more schools, both locally and beyond. Our team is constantly growing to include volunteers at neighboring school districts, as more and more people hear about our impact and associate themselves with our mission. We are even in the process of setting up programs in New Jersey and the Czech Republic, thanks to our expanding volunteer network! We plan to continue this process of organic growth and reach at least 10 new communities by 2024. 

Our robust community partnerships have led to huge breakthrough successes, such as important firsts in hearing education legislation in the PA state House and Senate, as well as destigmatization through Senate, State, County, and District recognition of hearing loss awareness days, accomplished after 3 Tiny Bones advocacy. We plan to expand this to other states, and at a national and international level through a new WHO partnership and will apply to join the World Hearing Forum.