Please send a gift of $30 or more NOW to help teens like Luke hear their future.
Online Bank Transfer
Account name: The National Foundation for the Deaf Incorporated
Account Number: 12-3011-0519936-51
Reference: Your name
Code: Your name OR Supporter ID
Please email us at enquiries@nfdhh.org.nz or call us 0800 867 446 if you require a receipt and don't forget to include your full name and address.
Make a donation
When hearing loss goes undetected, futures go silent. You can change that today.
Imagine being a teenager, sitting in class, trying to focus — but the words just don’t make sense. You miss the joke in your friend group. You start to withdraw, not because you want to — but because no one realises you’re struggling to hear. The world grows quieter, and lonelier.
For far too many young people across Aotearoa like Luke, this silent struggle is their daily life. But with early support, we can change that. All it takes is $30 to give a student the gift of sound hearing.
The need is real, and so is the impact. Here's what your support is making possible.
Make a donation
Online Bank Transfer
Account name: The National Foundation for the Deaf Incorporated
Account Number: 12-3011-0519936-51
Reference: Your name
Code: Your name OR Supporter ID
Please email us at enquiries@nfdhh.org.nz or call us 0800 867 446 if you require a receipt and don't forget to include your full name and address.
Protecting young ears, shaping bright futures
Through our Hearing Screening and Make Listening Safe Programme, we’re uncovering hidden hearing issues early and empowering teens with knowledge to protect their hearing for life.
With on-site checks, we’re helping Year 9 students stay connected, and fully engaged. Last year, we reached 64 secondary schools and gave thousands of teens the chance to be seen, heard and supported. This year, with your support, we’re aiming to visit 85 secondary schools across New Zealand, giving even more teens the opportunity to thrive both in school and beyond.
The prevalence of hearing loss in teens
Hearing loss among adolescents is a growing global concern, with research highlighting strong correlations between unsafe listening practices and measurable auditory damage. A global study estimates that over 1 billion young people are at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices. Prolonged personal listening devices use can cause both temporary and permanent hearing loss, however, a survey on teen noise exposure demonstrates that 70.4% of students receive no instruction on hearing protection.
These findings underscore the urgency of expanding school-based hearing programmes. Integrating screenings, education on safe listening habits can mitigate irreversible damage.
Every voice matters. Meet the people behind the success of the programme.
Hear directly from the students, schools and staff who make this programme possible – starting with Luke’s story, a student whose life was changed through the hearing screening programme.
“We never put it together that Luke had a formal hearing issue. He plays in a band and he’ll probably notice a huge shift when his hearing improves. It will unlock a whole new level for him.”
Jane, Luke’s mum
“This is the second time we’ve been a part of this amazing programme. It’s such a crucial age to catch any issues with students' hearing.”
Sally Jordan, Careers Advisor at Aurora College, Invercargill
“A student recently shared with me that she wished she had received hearing aids much earlier. She felt she had fallen behind her classmates simply because she couldn’t hear properly. Stories like hers are a powerful reminder of why early intervention matters.”
Susanne Amtman, DFHH Community Partnerships Administrator
With your support, we can reach more students before it’s too late. Every gift helps us tune in to more young people — so no student is left unheard.
$30 helps one student today
$90 supports three students' hearing futures
$150 gives five more people the chance to thrive