POLICY & ADVOCACY
In the United States for every 1,000 children born, 3 will have hearing loss and 40% of those children will be deaf. Yet to a parent, all that matters is that your child has hearing loss and you want to do whatever it takes to help your child. So while hearing loss has been coined the ‘silent disability’ it is very loud when it is your child. We understand and this is why we know that parents are a child’s best advocates. Parents have the best capacity to positively impact policies around pediatric hearing loss and the Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources (FHSR) works to provide timely information around legislative issues that affect deaf and hard of hearing children (DHH), so parents can engage and advocate for their child.
Facts about hearing loss:
- According to the World Health Institute, deafness is America’s leading birth defect. Since FHSR was founded in 1958 we have been committed to providing the best care and support necessary to children with hearing loss and their families.
- One of the fastest growing populations with hearing loss is teenagers. Research shows that one in five teens in the United States has a hearing loss due to high-volume sounds in daily life such as headphones emitting loud music and excessive traffic noise.
- The CDC reports that each year more than 12,000 babies are born with a hearing loss in the United States; often the cause is unknown. According to the World Health Institute, deafness is America’s leading birth defect.
GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY & ENGAGEMENT
FHSR works to ensure that families of children with hearing loss and our stakeholders have the information and tools necessary to voice their support for pediatric hearing loss issues to their elected officials in Illinois.Â
FHSR maintains relationships with lead researchers, top clinicians, direct service providers and educators to make sure our priorities and programs are aligned with the needs of children living with hearing loss and their families. We believe in listening and learning from the experts in the field and allowing that to inform our policy and program decisions.
Decisions being made at the government level have a direct effect on our children’s lives and FHSR wants to make sure that families have information on past and current legislation such as the American Disabilities Act, Newborn Hearing Screening, Early Intervention, and Insurance to name a few.
ADVISORY AND ADVOCACY
Insurance Coverage
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Newborn Hearing Screening Legislation
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Hearing Aids
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Early Childhood Advocacy
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504 Plans
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ADA
Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words
Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
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Legislators to Contact
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FHSR 2025 Speaker Series:
When It's Not the Hearing Loss
Many deaf and hard of hearing kids will struggle in school – but sometimes, it’s not the hearing loss. Research shows that 40% – 60% of children with hearing loss will be diagnosed with an additional disability (with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, Autism spectrum disorder, and visual impairments being the four most prevalent).
Parents and professionals joined FHSR for an evening exploring how to identify when other factors may be at play, including when and how to seek additional testing or assessments, and when and how to seek additional accommodations.
The evening featured keynote speaker, neuropsychologist Lori G. Tall, a moderated panel of hearing loss and education experts. Â
DONATE
Help us to continue the efforts of the past more than 60 years to facilitate important conversations, to lead advocacy efforts, to support important research that will benefit families for years to come.Â
BE A PART OF IT ALL.
Give the gift of hearing.
Every contribution to FHSR helps improve the lives of children with hearing loss.Â
We hope you will consider making a gift to support these children.  Thank you!
FHSR 2025 Speaker Series:
When It's Not the Hearing Loss
Many deaf and hard of hearing kids will struggle in school – but sometimes, it’s not the hearing loss. Research shows that 40% – 60% of children with hearing loss will be diagnosed with an additional disability (with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, Autism spectrum disorder, and visual impairments being the four most prevalent).
Parents and professionals joined FHSR for an evening exploring how to identify when other factors may be at play, including when and how to seek additional testing or assessments, and when and how to seek additional accommodations.
The evening featured keynote speaker, neuropsychologist Lori G. Tall, a moderated panel of hearing loss and education experts. Â
