Alexandria Doctor Nominated For Work With Hearing Impaired Kids

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A doctor from Alexandria is nominated for a national award for her impact on the hearing impaired community. Dr. Jennifer Lightfoot, AuD, is one of 12 finalists nominated for this year’s Oticon Focus on People Awards. The national awards honor adults, students, advocates with hearing loss, and hearing care practitioners who have helped the hearing impaired community. Lightfoot is nominated in the practitioner category.

As someone diagnosed with hearing loss at age 5, her work to help hearing impaired children has a special meaning, according to her Oticon biography. An audiologist at Gallaudet University's Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, she works with children ranging from infants to 8th graders.

She's also traveled to Guatemala to help with fitting hundreds of disadvantaged children with hearing aids. She has served as co-chair for the early intervention committee for the DC Chapter of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention.

"These 12 finalists especially stand out as trailblazers in the hearing loss and professional hearing care communities," said Nancy Palmere, director of consumer marketing and public relations for Oticon, Inc. "Each one is tearing down walls and proving that a condition like hearing loss does not inhibit their ability to make a difference."

Voting is open through Sept. 26. Entries are limited to one per person. First place winners in each category receive a donation to the charity of their choice, and winners in the student, adult, and Advocacy categories receive a pair of Oticon BrainHearing hearing aids. All finalists receive a cash prize.

Winners will be announced in November.