Broom Reid & Harris, as part of the Association of Independent Hearing Healthcare Professionals network (AIHHP), is sponsoring the London leg of the Hear the World Ambassadors exhibition, which will be showcased at London’s Saatchi Gallery and is open free to the public from 22nd to 26th July 2009. The exhibition has previously visited New York, Berlin and Zurich.

Bryan Adams has taken a series of exclusive photographs of renowned personalities for Hear the World, a global initiative which raises awareness about the importance of hearing and the impact of hearing loss, which was launched by Phonak in 2006. As official photographer, Bryan Adams captured each of the celebrity supporters with a hand cupped behind their ear to convey conscious hearing.

Curtis Alcock from Broom Reid & Harris says: “In the UK, people struggle with hearing loss for an average of 15 years before seeking advice, despite there being many solutions available that could make a significant difference to their lives. The Hear the World initiative is addressing this problem by providing support and raising awareness about hearing loss on a global scale.”

To celebrate their involvement in the campaign and encourage people in Devon to have their hearing tested regularly, Broom Reid & Harris will be offering complementary hearing assessments throughout July and August 2009. For more information call 01392 436714.

“I’m excited to lend my support to such an important cause,” said Adams. “As a musician, I’m naturally sympathetic to an initiative dedicated to helping people appreciate and preserve an individual’s sense of sound. I hope this exhibit helps to remind people of the tremendous value of their hearing.”

Over 800 million people worldwide, more than 16 percent of the world’s population, have hearing loss and the number is expected to increase to 1.1 billion by 2015. In the UK the number of people with hearing loss is estimated at 8.5 million. Studies have shown that untreated hearing loss can have a significantly negative effect on a person’s social, emotional and physical wellbeing.

More information about the exhibition is available from www.ilovemyhearing.com/heartheworld.