Give Kids with Hearing Loss a Voice

When parents first learn their child is deaf or hard of hearing, the news can be devastating. They're uncertain where to turn for help and what their child's future will be like. Center for Hearing and Communication (CHC) is not only where they find the answers but where they discover hope.

Take a moment to read a personal account by Shannah and Erik, parents of Charlie, the personable 4-year old in this video, who despite having a serious hearing loss is learning to hear and speak at CHC. And please make a donation today so that we'll be here for all the families facing the challenges of hearing loss in 2012.

Dear CHC Friend,

Our son Charlie turns five in a few weeks, loves his friends from preschool and is really looking forward to starting kindergarten next year where he can meet new people and learn even more new things. He particularly enjoys karate, Star Wars and playing with his younger brother. He’s a busy, active kid with one special activity that we believe makes all the other ones possible: he goes to the Center for Hearing and Communication (CHC) twice a week for speech and language therapy because he was born with a serious hearing loss.

When we found out that Charlie had permanent hearing loss, we were lost. No child in either of our families had been diagnosed with hearing loss and we had no idea what to do. We were overwhelmed with questions, both about what to do and what to expect. Would Charlie learn to talk? Could he go to a regular school? Where could we get answers and get him the help he would need?

Luckily, we found our way to CHC. We walked in, met their staff and knew we were in the right place for our whole family. They didn’t ask us how we would pay for the help that Charlie needed (hearing aids, frequent hearing tests, hours of speech therapy and untold other support), but they did assure us with total confidence that he would be okay. I can tell you, 4 ½ years later, he (and we) are more than okay! He is progressing in school, making friends, and is a happy, empathetic chatterbox.

Through the expert staff at CHC, Charlie has received the highest caliber of professional care. Unfortunately, the cost for their vast array of services is only partly covered by fees and government funding, so CHC is heavily dependent on donations from people like you to keep going.

Please make a donation today so that CHC can continue helping all the Charlies yet to come through their doors. They are depending on you!

With warm best wishes,

Shannah and Erik

P.S. Your tax-deductible donation can be made at www.CHChearing.org/donate or you can visit the CHC page on the social fundraising website Fundly.com where you can make a donation and invite your friends and family to lend their support.