Siemens teams with Disney to launch Mickey Mouse-themed hearing care kit for young children with hearing loss.

Siemens Hearing Instruments, a division of Siemens Canada Limited, together with The Walt Disney Company, are proud to introduce the new Disney Pediatric Kit for children with hearing loss. The kit features a special edition lunchbox with hearing instrument accessories, a plush Mickey Mouse toy and an exclusive Disney storybook about adapting to life with hearing loss.

Up to six of every 1,000 babies born in Canada have a hearing loss, including profound deafness. As children grow, incidence increases due to various causes; hearing difficulties and/or loss eventually affect up to at least 1.4 million children (18 years or younger) in North America, to some degree. Of course, each child has their own specific needs and preferences.

“Now, the world’s most famous set of ears is helping young children learn about hearing loss and cope with their condition,” stated Dr. Thomas Powers, vice president of audiology and professional relations at Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc. (USA).

The kit will be made available to Canadian and American audiologists compliments of Siemens, for distribution to all children who are fit with any Siemens hearing instrument appropriate for pediatric use.  The kit includes a Mickey Mouse plush toy, hearing aid use and care instruction book, dehumidifier, air puffer, stethoset, tool set, and battery tester. The kit can also be used by children as a lunchbox. 

The kit will also be accompanied by a new Disney book created exclusively for Siemens, Three Cheers for Bunny’s Ears!, which details the adventures of Mickey Mouse and Bunny, a brand new Mickey Mouse Club House character who thrives with hearing loss.

“By teaming up with Disney and Mickey Mouse, one of the most beloved characters in family entertainment, we want to create a meaningful, fun and educational way to connect with pediatric patients and their parents,” said Jeff Malpass, Vice President of Sales for Siemens Hearing Instruments in Canada. “We want our audiologists to be seen as a resource and partner for their patients, helping to ease the transition to living with hearing loss by providing children with some familiar characters who are experiencing a similar situation.”

Teaming with Audiologists
Both the Disney Pediatric Kit and "Three Cheers for Bunny’s Ears!" will only be available through participating audiologists across Canada.  To participate in this exclusive program and to receive the kits, books and materials with their order for hearing instruments, audiologists should request the materials from their local Siemens sales representative.

For more information about Siemens Hearing Instruments and to locate a preferred Siemens business partner who can provide a personalized hearing management plan, call 866-505-8891 or visit the Siemens Hearing Instruments web site at www.siemens.ca/hearing.

About Siemens in Canada
Siemens is one of the largest and most diversified companies in the world of electronics and electrical engineering, operating in the industry, energy and healthcare sectors. The company has approximately 6,000 employees in Canada, working to develop and manufacture products, design and install complex systems and projects, and tailor a wide range of solutions for individual requirements. For almost 100 years in Canada, Siemens has stood for technical achievements, innovation, quality and reliability. Sales for Siemens in Canada for fiscal 2008 (ended September 30), were $2.6 billion CAD.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on the beliefs of the management of Siemens Canada Limited and its affiliates. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "forecast," "expect," "intend," "plan," "should," and "project," are used to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the management's current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results to be materially different, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, changes in currency exchange rate and interest rates, introduction of competing products, lack of acceptance of new products or services and changes in business strategy. Actual results may vary materially from those projected here. Siemens Canada Limited and its affiliates do not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.