About Us
Our Mission is to Help People Hear!
History of Agency For Hearing
In 1929 the first information booth for the American Federation of
Organizations for the Hard of Hearing was conducted at the California State Fair by Agnes Stowell of Berkeley. At that time visitors who were interested in an organization for the hard of hearing in Sacramento were asked to leave their name and addresses.
The first meeting of the "Sacramento League for the Hard of Hearing"
was held on October 25, 1929 at the YWCA Bungalows in Sacramento.
The organization became official on March 14, 1930 when Erna Wyatt
was elected president. At the beginning there were five officers, six
board managers and a 16 charter members.
The first order of business was to set up lip-reading classes through the Sacramento Evening School. Thirty-five students attended the first class. Also during that week the society assisted in giving the first audiometer tests to be given in the city of Sacramento.
In the 1950's major activities in the early years included: creation of interest in hard of hearing children through contacts with educational leaders and parents; annual observation of National Hearing Week;
assistance to hard of hearing individuals in securing employment and acquiring hearing-aids; the purchase of group hearing equipment for the use of the chapter; permanent affiliation with the American Society for the Hard-of-Hearing; and a membership drive in 1939 that resulted in 104 new members. In 1949 the league changed its name to the the Sacramento Hearing Society. During the 1950's, the society established a youth group, appointed a member to the board of the Crippled Children's Society, aired radio and television programs, and hired a secretary for $1,500 a year.
In 1961 sign language classes were established. The society also started to loan hearing-aids rather than give them away permanently to lower-income individuals. Altrusa Club financed the publication of 10,000 brochures which were given to otologists and hearing-aid dealers for distribution.The Society's booth at the State Fair won a plaque as an outstanding educational exhibit.
The Associates of the Sacramento Hearing Society was formed in the 1960's with about 30 prominent couples as members. The purpose of the associates was to raise funds for the society as well as promote
the organization's activities. The "resourceful and daring" associates hosted a variety of gala events, including "Revel in the Rubble", the "Third Fall Ball" and the "Devil May Care" party. Actor Spencer Tracy,
founder of the John Tracy Clinic, was the master of ceremonies for at least one event.
At the 1960's "Dinner at the Dump" fundraisers associates raised the funds to purchase several Mobile Test Vans, which began to provide school hearing screenings in fourteen counties in northern California.
In 1975 Sacramento County provided funding to purchase another van to provide testing at senior centers, preschools and health fairs in the county. In 1977 the name of the Society was officially changed to the "Sacramento Hearing Services Center, Inc.
In the 1980's the contribution from United Way was over $75,000. In the 1980's the center began providing an annual week-long recreation camp for deaf and hard of hearing children. The early years of camp saw
sleeping bags and cots and the fun activities more than made up for the primitive setting. By the 1990's the camp had moved to Sacramento County Gibson Ranch Park, complete with cabins and
dining facilities. All counselors were sign-language fluent and the parents were assured that their children would have a wonderful time in their own communication mode. Campers enjoyed activities
such as horseback riding, creek swimming, "Messy Olympics", arts-and-crafts and more. The camp was last held in 1999 and was discontinued due to the numerous other camps available for the deaf in Northern California.
In 2000, Sacramento Hearing Services Center once again changed it's name. We are now known as Agency for Hearing. Lions Club donated a used vehicle that was a refurbished by Sertoma to bring our school
van fleet to four.
Today, the agency's programs include a comprehensive audiology clinic, the Hearing Aid Loan program, school and industrial hearing screenings, outreach to senior centers and preschools, recreation camp, coping skills classes and a support group. Sacramento County has recently provided a Mobile Hearing Clinic. This allows us to take full audiology and hearing aid diagnosing services to people in need who are unable to come to our office.