Kroger donation elevates education and broadens audiology outreach

Jessica Prewitt, AuD, the lead audiologist at the University of Cincinnati Speech and Hearing Clinic, opened her phone to find a message from her husband, Kroger pharmacist Ben Prewitt, PharmD. He had some unexpected news: Kroger had a surplus of over-the-counter hearing devices designed to help with mild-to-moderate hearing loss and were looking for a place to donate the supplies. The Prewitts immediately saw the potential. These devices could change lives — and with so many available, they knew it was time to make a move.

With the assistance of the University of Cincinnati Foundation, the Prewitts obtained the devices, which included headphones, hearing aids and other ear protection with plans to distribute them to communities in need.

Now, audiology students at the College of Allied Health Sciences are passing out hearing protection at local community health fairs such as the Reds Abilities at Bat, Black Men’s Wellness Day and the College-Conservatory of Music events. Similarly, donations have been given to the Heidt Center of Excellence, UC Athletics, Crayons to Computers, FC Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. With the Kroger donations, UC Audiology Services is ensuring that the community has the tools it needs to foster safe listening.

Jessica Prewitt is passionate about educating others on the importance of protecting your hearing. She comments on the dangers of prolonged noise exposure, “It’s not necessarily how loud, but how loud for how long. And hearing protection can help us reduce that overall volume so that we can be in a loud environment and listen to Dave Matthews Band for three hours without having to worry about our ears ringing.”

With Kroger’s support, UC was able to launch early initiatives that brought much-needed attention to hearing protection. The donation of headphones and hearing protection devices allowed outreach efforts to take shape in practical, community-focused ways. Kroger’s contribution did more than supply equipment — it sparked a larger conversation about hearing health and opened the door to education and care for individuals both locally and beyond.

Cincinnati Children’s pediatric audiologist, Jen Kraft, AuD, emphasizes the importance of proactive education when it comes to hearing health. “I’m very proactive,” she explains. “Looking at health care proactively and asking, how can we make this situation better for children, is key.” Instead of waiting for hearing loss to occur, she advocates for community-wide efforts that educate both adults and children on the risk of everyday noises.

For Kraft, having Kroger’s ear protection donation, for use both at home and in the doctor’s office, helped deliver more effective care to her patients. 

Jessica Prewitt and the Kroger team extended their impact internationally through a partnership with the Palace Foundation in Cancun, Mexico. Working alongside longtime collaborators at the foundation, Prewitt and a group of UC Audiology students brought and distributed hearing protection devices to local patients in need. Student Erica Scott, CAHS ’27, recalls the challenges of conducting hearing tests in unconventional settings, such as crowded locker rooms, and packing equipment into every available inch of luggage. “From a student perspective, we're taught pretty black and white, how to do things and what's written in our textbook,” Scott notes. “But [in Cancun], it’s like you were given this area and then you had to make do with it. So being able to pivot and shift gear [was crucial].”

Prewitt adds that thanks to UC Audiology students, they were able to help serve over 350 patients. “I have never been so proud of our students. I'm pretty impressed with our students on a regular basis. But in Mexico, I was just blown away at how phenomenal our students were.”

At the UC Audiology Clinic, Prewitt and her team offer free audiograms to help community members monitor their hearing health and take proactive steps to protect it.

Take a look at UC Audiology to learn more about its services. 

Featured image at top: UC students at CCM. Photo/Provided.