Palomar Health offers ‘Hear for the Holidays’ contest

SAN DIEGO – For the 11th year in a row, one deserving San Diegan will receive the gift of hearing this holiday season with a free, state-of-the-art Starkey hearing device as a part of the annual "Hear for the Holidays" essay contest. Participants can enter now through Nov. 20.

Palomar Health and Starkey Hearing Technologies are teaming up to offer one contest winner a new pair of Starkey hearing aids and a lifetime of free office visits with David M. Illich, Au.D., chief audiologist at Palomar Health.

"We’ve changed a lot of people’s lives," says Dr. Illich, who founded Hear for the Holidays. "This program is for people who need help, but just can’t afford it."

To enter the contest, residents will submit an essay of 300 words or less describing why they or a loved one deserves these state of the art hearing aids. The selection of the winning essay will be based on the following criteria:

• Financial need
• Impact of hearing handicap on quality of life
• Degree of hearing impairment (to be determined with a free screening at Professional Hearing Associates, Inc.)
• Quality of the essay

Contestants must be 18 years or older and a San Diego County resident to enter. Participants must not have hearing aid coverage through any other resource, including insurance or government assistance.

"There is nothing more important than being able to communicate with your family and friends," Dr. Illich says. "A hearing aid gives back one of the most beautiful and important things in life."

Dr. Illich created Hear for the Holidays in 2005 as his way to give back after seeing so many caring people help his Mississippi

family recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Email essays to [email protected] or mail them to Professional Hearing Associates, Inc., 1045 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA 92025.

The deadline for essays is Nov. 20, by 5 p.m. The winner will be announced Monday, Dec. 7. For more information, call (760) 489-6902.