The WHCC Affordable Health Innovatons Exhibit will feature a unique new organization called Solar Ear, which will travel all the way from Brazil to be part of the program. Howard Weinstein, a social entreprenuer and Ashoka Fellow, will attend with a user of the solar-powered hearing aid the organization develops. The rechargable battery used in the digital device is recharged by solar power, and the device meets a need for the hearing impaired, especically in developing countries.
According to the World Health Organizaiton, 7% of world population will ecnounter some degree of hearing loss, totaling 278 million people. The prevalence of hearing impairment in Latin America varies between 5 and 9%.
The Solar Project Ear develops rechargeable digital hearing aids. They developed the first rechargeable digital hearing aid costing under $70US and first rechargeable hearing aid battery which costs $0.50 but lasts 2 to 3 years.
