One of the many joys parents experience happens the moment their little baby girl or boy utters their first word or phrase. But hearing those around them isn’t a skill children acquire over time, and some children are born entirely without this vital sense.
Hear Indiana is a 40-year-old nonprofit organization to empower and support families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, by providing hope, education, advocacy and resources, catering to Indiana’s strong need for hearing assistance. The organization reports more than 225 children are born unable to hear every year in Indiana, and 92 percent of those children with permanent hearing loss are born to two hearing parents. If a child receives early intervention before six months of age, they have an excellent chance of obtaining age-appropriate language skills by the time they enter first grade.
“We can treat hearing loss as soon as that baby is born, because there is a lot of research about the importance of early exposure to language. Children can quickly fall behind in school, and we want to prevent that,” said Naomi Horton, executive director of Hear Indiana.
Even infants can be tested without realizing it. But many times, children aren’t diagnosed early enough.
Horton said hearing loss should be identified early on to help families figure out the best way to communicate. Over time, experts have found the way in which parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing communicate has changed. In 1995, 60 percent utilized American Sign Language and 40 percent used spoken language, but in 2005, just 15 percent used sign language and 85 percent used spoken language.
Thanks to Hear Indiana’s partnership with Easter Seals Crossroads — which was awarded a three-year, $1.5 million grant by Lilly Endowment Inc. to create the Easter Seals Crossroads Speech and Hearing Resource Center — several services are now available. The center provides speech therapy, audiology, information and referral, school outreach and counseling for parents of children who are deaf or have a hearing loss.
Horton said the new center is focused on helping parents choose the option that’s best for their family and their child.
“The cost of comprehensive listening and spoken-language services can be quite formidable, and we want to ensure Hoosier families from all walks of life have equal access to comprehensive information and a full range of options,” said Horton.
According to Hear Indiana, it cost schools approximately $420,000 extra when children are not diagnosed with hearing loss early on, and the average retail cost of a single hearing aid is $3,000. While these numbers may drive some families to dig deep into their pockets, again, there is financial hope.
Gifts of Sound is a financial aid program through Hear Indiana that ensures every baby and child who needs hearing aids will receive them, regardless of family income level. The program is flexible with no strict income requirement as each family’s needs will be reviewed. In Indiana, the government-run First Steps Early Intervention program does cover the cost of one’s first hearing aid; health insurance does not cover hearing aids, as they are considered cosmetic.
As a nonprofit, Hear Indiana also works with local partners to help educate the community on the importance of communication, hearing, learning and language. Indianapolis Public Schools is involved in one of those outreach efforts, in which students benefit from the organization’s services.
“There aren’t many places families can get these resources, and we want to continue to provide that. We’re one of the only one-stop-shops around,” said Emily Heaton, development manager.
Each spring, “Talk Walk Run,” a competitive 5K and 10K run and carnival, is held to raise money for the organization so they can continue helping families in need. Last year the event surpassed its goal and raised $108,000 with several teams participating.
“The Talk Walk Run raises awareness and funds for our ongoing programming. One of those programs is our Listening and Spoken Language Camp for children with hearing loss. In order to make camp affordable for children from all walks of life, we allow them to fundraise for camp via a personal fundraising page for the Talk Walk Run,” added Heaton.
Camp is held in June and gives children and teenagers ages 8–18 with hearing loss the opportunity to make new friends with shared life experiences and to further their leadership and assertiveness skills in a structured atmosphere. Campers participate in dialogue and outdoor activities specifically designed to provide them with opportunities to develop leadership skills and build self-confidence. The organization prides itself on providing scholarships, as no child will be turned away because of an inability to pay.
In addition, parents and children can participate in a monthly encouragement meeting titled Hear INcouragement. In one past meeting, Shannon Jones, center director of the Lindamood-Bell Indianapolis Learning Center, led an informative question-and-answer segment on solutions for a range of learning challenges, including those associated with dyslexia, ADHD and ADD. Other topics include, special education rights, executive function, reading challenges, leadership, and using play to facilitate language.
In the next 36 hours, another baby in Indiana will be born deaf or hard of hearing. Hear Indiana pledges to be there to cater to that child.
For more information, visit HearIndiana.org.
