Help save the children who are lost in a world of silence.
Imagine for a moment that you're a child born with an undetected hearing impairment. You're unable to develop normal speech, language and understanding. You're misdiagnosed an autistic, learning disabled or mentally retarded. Even worse, you're forever labeled "disadvantaged" or just plain "stupid".
Right now, it's estimated that six babies out of every thousand are born with, or acquire, permanent hearing loss. And these statistics are based only on children who are fortunate enough to be diagnosed early in childhood. There are estimates that suggest we could be missing as many as 50% of the children born with serious hearing impairment. Children who, with each passing day, take a step backwards in their development.
But this doesn't have to happen. With your help The Hearing Research Institute hopes to begin a regular routine of infant hearing testing at hospitals across the country.
Infant Hearing Testing is accurate, affordable and painless.
In the early days, Auditory Brainstem Response(ABR) testing was cumbersome and expensive. And even if an impairment was detected, many people thought, tragically, that nothing could be done until the hearing impaired child was older.
Now, we know better. ABR equipment and technology has made major advances. And today, testing is not only 98% accurate and completely painless, but also inexpensive--usually about $55--well within most family budgets and often covered by insurance plans.
The Hearing Research Institute needs your help.
At The Hearing Research Institute we like to think we're spokespeople for the millions of deaf and hearing impaired children who have no voice of their own. On their behalf, we're asking for your help.
Ask your doctor today.
If you've recently had a child, please insist that your doctor administer a hearing screening test as soon as possible. Testing can be done before you leave the hospital and early diagnosis can make all the difference to a hearing impaired child.
If you are fortunate enough not to have a hearing impaired child, we can still use your help. Spread the word to other new parents, and better still, volunteer your time or offer your financial support to the Hearing Research Institute.
If they could, the children would "thank you" for you time and consideration. Instead, we'll say "thank you" for them.
The Hearing Research Institute's Aims and purposes
Promote universal hearing screening testing of all new-born babies.
Provide medical, surgical or other treatments for hearing-impaired infants and children before the age of three.
Develop and support special schools and provide educational experiences for hearing-impaired children.
Create new hearing assistive devices and aids, and develop "Artificial Hearing" methods and technologies.
Establish, by liaison, a multidisciplinary approach to hearing related research, and monitor and report on matters which impact hearing conservation and other related issues.
Become a Sponsor/Member:
$15 Individual
$25 Family
$50 Corporate
$200 Business
$1,000 Benefactor
$5,000 Founder
Other________
Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
Please make Donations Payable To:
The Hearing Research Institute, Inc.
6280 Sunset Drive, Suite 405
South Miami, Florida 33143
Phone: (305) 661-9100
Fax: (305) 661-2238
For more information call or write:
ROBERT E. PICKARD, M.D.
at the address and phone above.
