AKRON, Ohio (BNN) - - For nearly 8 years, Robert Lyons has actually driven vans for the
Akron Public School District, transporting students to and from schools.
Some are autistic and have unique requirements.
It is a task he stated he absolutely loves.
" The kids - - they are incredible … But I most likely have anywhere from 5 to 17 kids a day," stated Lyons.
However a yearly physical revealed he hardly passed a hearing test, and he's worried that it might jeopardize his task.
" We have to hear the traffic, we need to hear the kids, we need to be aware of emergency situation cars, whatever is going on around us, the kids, what they are stating likewise," he stated.
Lyons followed up with a hearing assessment with Dr. Eleni Santarelli of the HearingLife Hearing Center in Medina.
" I have partial hearing loss in my right ear. I was type of familiar with it since I wasn't hearing low tones and she brought up - - also, the doctor did - - that kids speak in low tones. And in between 9 grandchildren and all the kids I drive, they all talk quick and their tones are low," stated Lyons.
Santarelli said: "We discovered he had some hearing loss and he was informing me how his hearing loss impacts his life and I made the suggestion, ‘‘ OK, we need to get you suitable for some listening devices.'".
The difficulty for Lyons, nevertheless, was managing a brand-new pair. On his own, he stated he recognized getting a set of listening devices was a "no-go.".
" He has some kids that he communicates with daily who have special needs, whether that may be an interaction impairment or some type of intellectual disability, and I just knew for his security, however also for the security of the kids, we required to do something," said Santarelli.
At a time when numerous school districts need as lots of chauffeurs as they can get, keeping one behind the wheel seems an important priority.
" I nominated him for our program through the Campaign for Better Hearing, which is a nationwide organization that HearingLife partners with. This is how we are able to present hearing aids to truly deserving people," stated Santarelli.
The program uses profits from every hearing appointment, whether listening devices are acquired or not, to be used to provide the hearing aids.
School closings due to web, phone issues.
Santarelli stated she was excited to discover that Lyons was picked as a recipient.
" Actually, when I learnt he won, I had tears in my eyes. I was really delighted for him, because he's a truly deserving individual," she stated.
" The next thing I know, I get a phone call stating I got a grant for a $6,000 or $7,000 set of hearing aids. … … Speechless," stated Lyons.
On Thursday, he was fitted for the new hearing aids and stated he really never valued what he was missing out on.
" I'm glad, very happy. I seem like I can do my job better. I can be a better grandpa, a better dad. Those are my go-to's in life," stated Lyons.
He advises anybody who feels they have hearing loss need to have it checked and do whatever they can to improve it.
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