On September 8, 2009, an academic activity was held by China Rehabilitation Research Centre for Deaf Children (hereafter referred to as “CRRCDC”) after the Start-up Ceremony of the WHO Collaborating Centre for the Prevention and Rehabilitation of Hearing Impairment.

In this academic activity, Prof. Sun Xibin, deputy director of CRRCDC, on behalf of team of WWH-China Pilot Project, presented a report on Measuring the Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness of Hearing Aid Programs for Marginalized Hearing Impaired Children in China. Dr. Adrew Smith, the honorary professor of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, gave a lecture on Hearing Impairment—the Global Picture. Dr. Sigfrid Soli, vice president, Technology Transfer of House Ear Institute, presented a lecture on International Harmonization of Outcome Research on Treatment of Hearing Loss. Dr. Bradley McPherson, Head, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong, gave a lecture on Hearing for the Whole World: Affordable Hearing.

During the application for WHO collaborating center, CRRCDC conducted WWHearing (world-wide hearing care for developing countries)-China Pilot Project and accomplished all objectives successfully, including providing 400 hearing impaired children with hearing aids and relevant services free of charge, standardizing the equipments and working procedures for hearing aid fitting available in developing countries, etc. The successful implementation of this project also proved the remarkable capacity of CRRCDC to execute further collaboration with WHO.

32 experts and professionals from CRRCDC, Beijing Disable Persons’ Federation and Guangxi Disable Persons’ Federation participated in this research and made outstanding contributions. On this occasion, Dr. Smith, the secretary-general of WWH executive committee, Dr. McPherson, expert and advisor of this project, Prof. Sun Xibin, the chief director of the pilot project in China, presented certifications to the representatives of the work team.