According to Callier Center for Communication Disorders Foundation Board Member Tricia George,
“My wish is that every girl and boy has the ability to hear. This seems like a simple request, but it’s not a given for every child.
“Every day in America, one to three babies per 1,000 are born deaf or hard of hearing. Can you imagine how it must feel for a new mother, or a new father, to be told that their infant did not pass the newborn hearing screening in the hospital? These parents are discharged at a time that should be joyful, but is now fraught with fear and concern regarding whether their child will live a normal life.
“On top of the emotional stress, many working families struggle financially to provide their child with necessary hearing aids and services. Working parents do not always have the purchase power or insurance coverage to pay for their child’s treatment. In addition, with the significant changes in Medicaid funding, offering treatment to these children is impossible without philanthropic funding.
“A child should not have to grow up without hearing aids. Growing up without hearing aids not only affects a child’s ability to hear, but also affects the child’s ability to develop speech. You have the power to remove these obstacles. You can make a wish come true for a child and his or her family.
“On behalf of the Callier Center, I kindly ask you to be a ‘HEAR O’. What is a ‘HEAR O’? Simply stated, a HEAR O helps give a child the ability to hear.
“When you give $1,000, you give a child two hearing aids and three years of follow-up services. Every amount counts. Thank you in advance for giving a child the gift of hearing this holiday season.
“To find out more about how to Be a ‘HEAR O’, contact Shanon Patrick at 214.905.3084 or [email protected]. Please visit the Callier Center at utdallas.edu/calliercenter.”
– Tricia George, Callier Center for Communication Disorders Foundation Board Member
* Photos provided by Callier Center for Communication Disorders Foundation