The gift of sound turns heartbreak into hope
There is nothing more heartbreaking than discovering that something’s not right with one of your children.
But donations and support from people like you can turn heartbreak into hope. Hear or read for yourself these lovely stories of hope, and know that by being part of the fun on Loud Shirt Day, you have helped to give a deaf child the gift of sound and speech.
Bryce’s story
Bryce’s parents were devastated to discover their newborn baby was profoundly deaf. Would their son never be able to hear the sound of birds or his mother’s voice, or tell his parents he loved them?
Modern science came to the rescue. At the early age of 5 months, Bryce received cochlear implants in both ears. But the brain won’t learn to interpret the messages from the implants without help, so Bryce has been receiving intensive therapy to help him develop spoken language.
Now, after all this assistance, Bryce’s communication skills are developing at the same pace as hearing children of his own age.
Bryce’s family continues the therapy at home and Bryce will be able to enter mainstream school with his big sister Emily when he turns 5.
It costs more than $10,000 a year to provide a child like Bryce with the therapy they need to help them listen and speak. It’s not just about ‘hearing’ – it’s about giving children like him a healthy, productive future and the ability to have the same choices others have about life and work and relationships.
When you wear your support and have fun on Loud Shirt Day, or organise a Loud Shirt Day event, you will be helping other children like Bryce learn to listen and speak so they too can have the choices you have.
