OLWYN Morris is heading to Peru to help set up a clinic for people with hearing difficulties. The audiologist speaks to health reporter Kate Liptrot about her plans to help transform people's lives.

THE New Year will bring strikingly different surroundings for audiologist Olwyn Morris.

The 27-year-old is swapping the comfortable surroundings of her hearing clinic in Boots in Coney Street for the high-altitude city of Cusco in Peru where she will provide a hearing service for local people.

Clients have already been lined up for the clinic she is setting up in a school.

" I have always wanted to set up a clinic to help the disadvantaged, disabled population in a country in need of help," Olwyn said, "My chosen destination is Cusco in Peru because there is little to no hearing support.

"My main objective is to provide a free audiological service where individuals may come to have their hearing diagnosed.

"They will be able to hear their family and friends properly for the first time in their lives and it will give them confidence, help them to socialise and even to be able to get a job."

Originally from Ireland, Olwyn studied for a degree in psychology and a masters in audiology before moving to work in York four years ago.

She will first travel to Argentina where she plans to work in a kindergarten for six weeks before moving on to a school in Cusco for children with disabilities called Manos Unidas.

Olwyn will train up a member of staff there to change the tubing in hearing aids and in after care so the clinic can continue when she leaves some four to six months later.

"Aftercare services are imperative to a project like this," Olwyn said, "I aim to train the local population to carry out basic aftercare services like changing the tubes on a hearing aid and turning up their hearing aids once their hearing deteriorates.

"Some hearing aids shall be fitted but I do need more hearing aids to try and help as many people as possible."

Boots Hearing Care has donated an audiometer and test equipment and hearing aids and Arlington Laboratories has agreed to make ear pieces from the moulds Olwyn will send back from Peru.

Varta Has also pledged to provide batteries.

- Olwyn is appealing to anyone who has spare hearing aids to bring them into the opticians area at the back of Boots in Coney Street, York.