Department of Nevada
Children and Youth
The Hear Today-Learn Tomorrow Program
A Program Designed
to Help Nevada's Children
with Hearing Impairments obtain Hearing Aids.
WHAT IS THE NEED?
The State of Nevada Health Division statistics indicate that there are approximately 1,000 school children who have been identified as having a hearing impairment. This does not include children from birth to school age and those who have been identified with some sort of hearing impairment.
The Gallaudet University Research Institute interpretation of the National Center for Health Statistics for 2003 indicate that persons reporting a loss of hearing from ages below five years old was 0.18% of the population, while those between 6 to 17 years old was 0.44% of the population. The Nevada State Demographer's population estimate for children having some type of hearing impairment to be well over 2,140 for the state.
The above estimate is conservative when the same Gallaudet study shows that those reporting some hearing trouble for ages zero to five years was 1.58% and ages between 6 to 17 years old had a rate of 3.26%. Some of the children in this latter group would benefit from hearing aids. The above data demonstrates the need for hearing aids for these children.
Many families have insurance or other financial means to provide their children the necessary medical help but do not have the financial means to provide the $2,000 to $4,000 that are needed for hearing aids.
WHO NEEDS HELP?
Families who have a child who could benefit from hearing aids but do not qualify for state Medicaid and who's insurance and/or family finances will not cover the cost of obtaining hearing aids.
WHY CONTRIBUTE TO THIS CAUSE?
Children who have hearing impairments cannot participate in the normal education and social activities that we take for granted. In short, they are relegated to a second class society or are shunned by their peers because they are different. This condition can be alleviated by obtaining hearing aids which not only makes them a part of their group but allows them to attend and participate in normal classroom activities.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO THE CHILD?
It keeps the child from being considered as different from other children and needing special attention. Over 36% of children with hearing impairments are not integrated with hearing children and another 21% are integrated less than 15 hours per week. This hearing impaired group of children are considered "Different".
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO THE CONTRIBUTOR?
First and foremost is that you will be helping a child live a normal life which will include full participation in educational activities and the social interaction that is a necessary process in becoming an accepted member of our society.
You will be supporting the parents of these children in providing their child with resources to alleviate their hearing impairment.
This program has no salaries to reduce the amount being used to benefit the children and promotional costs are being funded by a grant from the "American Legion Welfare Foundation". Administration costs are minimal and most are absorbed by the Department of Nevada. This means that most or all of your contributions will help the hearing impaired children.
WHAT HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR?
Click the links below to read about children who we have helped. This list will grow as we receive more testimonials.
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE?
CLICK HERE to download a Donation Form. Fill it out; write a check; and mail them both to the address on the form. Your generous donation is tax deductible.
DO YOU KNOW OF A CHILD THAT NEEDS HELP?
If you have a child, or know of a child who's family can be helped by obtaining hearing aids, please contact us. We will attempt to work with the family by providing services and partial funding to obtain hearing aids for the child. This will allow the child to more completely participate in the education and social process of growing up.
CLICK HERE to download an Application Form. Please note that families on Medicaid are not eligible for this program.