Young Entrepreneur Creates Earring Aids to Celebrate Hearing Devices

A nine-year-old girl from Mount Forest, Ontario, is harnessing her creativity to encourage people of all ages to embrace hearing aids. Olivia Barber, a student at St. Mary Catholic School, has worn hearing aids for most of her life. After meeting another girl in speech therapy who struggled with her hearing aids, Olivia was inspired to help make her feel more comfortable and confident.

“I told her that I received a jewellery kit for my birthday and thought I could make a pair of earrings for her hearing aids if I just had a little more supplies and practice,” said Olivia. With assistance from her mother, she began crafting earrings designed to attach to behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids.

Building a Community Through Creativity

Shortly after this encounter, Olivia launched Livie’s Earring Aids. The earrings attach to the inner ear tube of hearing aids, which directs sound into the ear canal. Olivia’s creations come in a range of lengths, colours, and designs, with her current favourite being a pink and yellow sunset pair.

“They’re really fun to make, and it makes me happy whenever I see people wear them,” Olivia explained. “I just like making people smile; it’s my favourite part.”

Since launching her business nearly two years ago, Olivia has made strides to give back to her community. Recently, she began donating her earring aids to seniors at local retirement homes, a project made possible by generous monetary donations from supporters.

To date, she has donated earring aids to the Birmingham Retirement Community in Mount Forest and Columbia Forest Long-term Care in Waterloo. This initiative holds special significance for Olivia, as she had the chance to donate earring aids to friends of her late grandmother.

A Supportive Family and Growing Impact

Leah Barber, Olivia’s mother, expressed pride in her daughter’s accomplishments. “They hold a special place in our hearts,” she noted. Leah and her husband, Graham, have been actively involved in supporting Olivia’s business, assisting her with the more challenging aspects as she navigates entrepreneurship.

“It’s wonderful that she can relate to others who have hearing aids, whether they are young or old. This has really helped her build a community,” Leah added. “We’re super proud of her; she has such a kind heart.”

Currently, Livie’s Earring Aids are available for purchase online as well as at Optimum Integrative Health Centre and Wellington County Speech Therapy in Fergus. Olivia’s efforts not only highlight her entrepreneurial spirit but also her commitment to fostering positivity among those who wear hearing aids.

For more information about Olivia’s earring aids, interested individuals can visit her website or local retailers. Olivia Barber is setting a remarkable example of how creativity and compassion can make a difference in the lives of others.