Dear OVV Friends and Family,
At Ohio Valley Voices, we advocate for and understand the importance of early identification of hearing loss and early access to sound. We know that it is not enough to receive hearing devices early, but they need to fit properly and be worn a minimum of 10 hours a day. This “wear time” has been researched and is without a doubt a crucial part when young children who are deaf or and hard of hearing are learning to learn to talk. Research by Gagnon et al. (2021) confirms that a child should wear their devices a minimum of 10 hours a day–preferably all waking hours–because it will significantly improve their language development. At OVV, we work with families to ensure their toddlers receive the appropriate services and support they need to increase their “wear time” to 10+ hours to improve their language.
Early implantation and “wear time” play a large role in children’s success who are deaf or hard of hearing. Our new building will allow OVV to no longer have a waitlist! We are thrilled the toddlers who are on the waitlist can begin our program in the fall and receive services that are critical for their long-term success.
The 2023-2024 school year will start later this year, in September, when the construction is complete and the rooms are ready for the children. There are a lot of exciting opportunities to support the future children of OVV. I invite you to schedule a tour to see the expansion as it is happening and get a firsthand look at our future. To schedule a tour please contact the Development Office. We would love to show you the construction progress and the future that it holds.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support Ohio Valley Voices and our mission. Please visit our website to learn more about our 15th Annual Gala held on March 4,2023.
Warmly,
Maria
Gagnon, E. B., Eskridge, H., Brown, K.D., & Park, L.R. (2021). The impact of cumulative cochlear implant wear time on spoken language outcomes at age 3 years. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 64(4), 1369–1375. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_jslhr-20-00567