$50,000 donation by MicroSeismic to fund pediatric hearing aids
A number of children in need throughout the Houston area will receive the gift of hearing thanks to a $50,000 donation by oilfield services provider MicroSeismic Inc.
With this gift, MicroSeismic, a provider of microseismic-based completions evaluation services for unconventional drilling, helps Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and the department of otorhinolaryngology at UTHealth Medical School provide hearing aids to pediatric patients that may otherwise have been unable to pay for them.
"With the cost of hearing aids starting around $1,000, many families are unable to afford the cost to correct their child's hearing," said Soham Roy, MD, director of pediatric otorhinolaryngology for Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and associate professor at UT Health Medical School. "Hearing loss can have a detrimental impact on a child's development, affecting speech and language skills and leading to possible learning problems, social isolation and poor self-esteem. Fortunately, with generous donations from companies like MicroSeismic, children who have fallen through the cracks now can overcome obstacles resulting from hearing impairment."
Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital is a 278-bed hospital dedicated to pediatric and neonatal care with an additional 68 beds dedicated to women's services. The hospital's special compassion and healing expertise has distinguished it as one of the finest children's hospitals in the nation. In partnership with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School, Children's Memorial Hermann specialists provide care for more than 120,000 patient visits annually, including the tiniest premature infants, children and adolescents.
The donation marks the first of its kind for Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, but for Houston-based MicroSeismic, a company focused on sound clarity, the donation just made sense.
"Our success as a company depends on our ability to listen to the sounds of the earth," said Peter Duncan, PhD, founder and CEO of MicroSeismic. "A child's road to success is made easier by his or her ability to listen to the world around them. Our mission aligns so well with the hopes of these children, that this is the perfect opportunity for MicroSeismic to give back."
With the range of otorhinolaryngology services offered at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and provided by some of the best known, most respected experts in the field of pediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT) care, the children are in good hands. Some have already been fitted with the complimentary hearing aids.
Victor Herrera with Soham Roy, MD, director of pediatric otorhinolaryngology for Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and associate professor at UTHealth Medical School.
Seven-year-old Victor Herrera, whose previous hearing aid was stolen earlier in the year, was the program's first recipient. The new, top-of-the-line hearing aid is a gift to both Victor and his family.
"This is really going to benefit my son," said Victor's mother, Priscilla Herrera. "We are very grateful for this generous gift from Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and MicroSeismic. It will help him so much when he goes back to school this month. And, I'm really excited that I don't have to yell anymore!"
About the Author
Mikaila Adams
Managing Editor, Content Strategist
Mikaila Adams has 20 years of experience as an editor, most of which has been centered on the oil and gas industry. She enjoyed 12 years focused on the business/finance side of the industry as an editor for Oil & Gas Journal's sister publication, Oil & Gas Financial Journal (OGFJ). After OGFJ ceased publication in 2017, she joined Oil & Gas Journal and was later named Managing Editor - News. Her role has expanded into content strategy. She holds a degree from Texas Tech University.