Accepted Teen Advisory Board members will have the opportunity to regularly interact with other like-minded teens to help shape the conversation around teens with hearing loss, while also contributing to the development of more ‘teen-friendly’ hearing technology. To facilitate feedback, members will receive the latest Phonak hearing aids and Roger technology.

Phonak experts will also work with the Teen Advisory Board and their parents to address various important topics, including the hearing aid stigma, bullying, current and future hearing aid technology, and access to decision-making information. In addition, teens will receive coaching on how to deal with social adversity, finding and developing support systems, and information on their rights to accommodations. Other coaching topics include increasing self-advocacy, improving presentation skills, and planning for the future.

“We are thrilled to offer this program to such an important, yet sometimes overlooked population of hearing aid wearers,” said Angela Pelosi, Global Director of Pediatrics & Power at Phonak. “With the Teen Advisory Board, we’re giving teen wearers the opportunity to voice their feedback directly to Phonak, the most well-known pediatric hearing aid brand and the place where research and development happens. We look forward to learning from our new Teen Advisory Board members while in return helping them develop life-long skills.”

The Teen Advisory Board is currently a one-year program with the potential to extend by another year. Once the application period ends, selected candidates and guardians will be notified by August 14. The Teen Advisory Board kick-off weekend will be held September 29-30 near Phonak U.S. Headquarters, home of the Phonak Audiology Research Center (PARC), in Warrenville, IL.

For more information and to apply, please visit www.phonak.com/teenadvisoryboard.