"Hearing connects! And not just people, but also regions," concludes Bettina Wulff, wife of Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Christian Wulff, who is the patron of the Hanover Hearing Centre. "The combination of medical technology and audio technology in Oldenburg and Hanover is unique in the world. In view of the demographic and technological
change, it offers considerable development potential for Lower Saxony," said Lutz Stratmann, Lower Saxony's Minister for Science and Culture. Bettina Wulff and Lutz Stratmann took part in a video conference between the Hanover Hearing Centre and The Haus des Hörens in Oldenburg, where an open day was held at the same time on 23 August 2009. In a unique parallel event, visitors to The Haus des Hörens were able to experience the latest findings and innovative technologies relating to hearing together with visitors to the Hanover Hearing Centre via a live broadcast.
In Auditory Valley, scientists, doctors and companies work closely together at both locations and achieve unique things to improve the quality of life for people with hearing problems.
Hanover - Oldenburg very close! Under this motto, we want to show visitors how we in Auditory Valley have achieved an international leading position by bringing together medical and technological hearing expertise at both locations in order to continuously improve treatment options for people with hearing problems and also make it easier for people with normal hearing to hear in acoustically challenging situations," explained the Director of the ENT Clinic at Hannover Medical School and the Hanover Hearing Centre, Prof. Dr. Thomas Lenarz and . Dr Thomas Lenarz and
the scientific director of The Haus des Hörens Prof. Dr Dr Birger Kollmeier (University of
Oldenburg and HörTech) explained at the event. And the more than one thousand visitors to
each of the locations in Oldenburg and Hanover were able to find out what there is to hear when it comes to hearing with hands-on activities, demonstrations and presentations
. From the fascination of "How do people hear?" to hearing tests and simulations of hearing loss to an acoustic journey through the sound of our time - the staff at the hearing centres offered visitors of all ages a wide range of listening experiences.
The relevance of the topic was emphasised in Bettina Wulff's welcoming address. She drew the guests' attention to the fact that around 15 million people in Germany are hard of hearing and that one or two children are born deaf every day. Depending on the degree of severity and medical diagnosis, the market offers modern high-tech solutions that have only become possible thanks to the research work in Oldenburg and Hanover. Visitors were able to gain an impression of these hearing aids and cochlear implants.
And the fact that the players in Auditory Valley not only contribute to a considerable improvement in the quality of life
of millions of people affected, but also contribute to economic growth in the region with their ideas and globally recognised
research achievements,
was explained to the visitors in a discussion with Science Minister Lutz Stratmann and Professor Birger Kollmeier. The state of Lower Saxony is funding research and development activities in Auditory Valley in order to further expand the national and international importance of the hearing centre and achieve a leading position in Europe.