Jayden Duensing Beck, Audiology Assistant at Professional Hearing Services, recently returned from a mission trip to El Salvador. She joined Dr. Gyl Kasewurm, David Kasewurm, and the Starkey Hearing Foundation to provide hearing care to underserved communities. This marked Jayden’s fourth humanitarian outreach—following her first mission to El Salvador in November 2024, her second to the Dominican Republic in January 2025, and her third to the Philippines.
The mission was part of the Starkey Hearing Foundation’s global initiative to restore hearing and reconnect individuals with their families, communities, and the world around them. For more than 40 years, the Foundation has transformed lives by delivering hearing aids and ongoing care to those in need, reaching over 2 million people in more than 100 countries to date.
In just two days in El Salvador, Jayden, Dr. Gyl, David, and fellow volunteers fitted over 1,100 individuals with hearing aids—each fitting telling a story of transformation. From elderly adults hearing their grandchildren’s laughter to children hearing their parents’ voices for the first time, every connection was profound.
“The first time someone truly hears, the room changes,” Jayden reflected. “Eyes lift, a spark catches—joy, shock, gratitude rush in. I’m humbled every time. These devices aren’t accessories; they’re lifelines.” For Jayden, the mission went beyond hearing care—it was about human connection. “Hearing roots us in belonging. When a loved one’s voice is heard again after years of silence, it isn’t just emotional—it’s sacred.”
This mission was especially momentous as the Starkey Hearing Foundation also celebrated a major milestone: the establishment of a Starkey Hearing Institute in El Salvador. During the trip, 29 students graduated as hearing healthcare professionals, completing rigorous training and hands-on practice. These graduates are now equipped to transform lives in their own communities, extending the gift of hearing well beyond the mission itself.
The work of the Starkey Hearing Foundation extends far beyond fitting devices. Through education, awareness, protection, and treatment, they ensure that hearing health is sustained long after volunteers depart. Foundation President Bill Austin has pledged to distribute more than 100,000 hearing aids annually through the end of the decade, guided by a simple but powerful vision: “Alone we can’t do much. But together we can change the world.”
Hearing loss affects 1 in 8 Americans and 430 million people worldwide, including 34 million children—most of whom lack access to proper hearing care. Jayden and her fellow volunteers are working to change that, one mission at a time.
Julie Duensing, owner of Professional Hearing Services, commented that PHS is proud to support Jayden’s passionate commitment to global hearing health and to stand with the Starkey Hearing Foundation in delivering compassion through care. “Each trip, each person helped, brings us closer to a world where everyone can experience the simple yet profound joy of sound.”
To learn more about Professional Hearing Services and the Starkey Hearing Foundation, visit:
