Phonak's "Hear the World Tour" exhibit to raise hearing loss awareness at Miami

The Hear the World initiative by Phonak will bring the Hear the World Tour - a traveling photography exhibit - to Macy's at Dadeland Mall (Miami, FL) to raise awareness about hearing loss, a growing issue that affects 31 million Americans. After officially joining forces in October 2009, Phonak and Macy's kicked-off a cross-country hearing awareness tour that debuted in Dallas and San Francisco in the fall.

From January 8th through the 21st, Macy's shoppers can receive a free hearing screening and view the internationally-acclaimed photography exhibit featuring the artwork of musician and official Hear the World photographer, Bryan Adams. Adams has photographed several notable musicians and celebrities including Mick Jagger, Billy Idol, Annie Lenox, Diane Kruger, Michael Buble and many others. Each image features the celebrity ambassador with a hand behind an ear in a conscious pose of "hearing."

Local hearing healthcare professionals will also be on-hand to answer any questions and provide educational materials about hearing loss prevention and treatment.

"Phonak is very excited to continue the success of the first leg of the Hear the World tour by bringing the exhibit to some of the largest cities in the US," said Valentin Chapero, CEO of Phonak. "The issue of hearing loss is so often ignored and we are proud to be able to work with Macy's to continue to bring this issue to the forefront."

While often undetected or neglected, hearing loss can become a social and emotional barrier for the individuals suffering from it, or the families of those it affects. Contrary to popular belief, hearing loss is not solely a concern for the elderly. In fact, according to the Better Hearing Institute (BHI), more than 6 million Americans affected are between the ages of 18 to 44.