We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from one of our incredible partners—the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has just won a 2025 Summit Award for the HEAR and TALK text messaging programs we built together!
The Summit Award, given by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), is the highest honor an association can receive for making a meaningful impact in communities across the U.S. and around the world. And that’s exactly what HEAR and TALK are doing—helping families get the right information, at the right time, to support children with hearing loss or speech-language delays.
About HEAR and TALK
We teamed up with ASHA to create these specialty text messaging programs so caregivers could get expert guidance—free, accessible, and right to their phones.
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HEAR supports parents and caregivers of children from birth to age 3 with suspected or confirmed hearing loss.
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TALK helps those caring for children ages 2–6 with suspected or confirmed speech-language delays or disorders.
Subscribers receive 12 messages over six months—tailored to their child’s age, developmental stage, and location. Messages come in English, Spanish, or Arabic and link to trusted resources, practical tips, and encouragement.
For the HEAR program, we also collaborated with the Helping Adults Talk to Children (HATCH) Lab at Idaho State University. All content was developed by experts in audiology and speech-language pathology.
Why This Matters
Communication disorders are far more common than many people realize:
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1 in 500 babies in the U.S. is born deaf or hard of hearing, with rates increasing to about 15% in school-age children.
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Nearly 11% of children ages 3–6 have a speech, language, or voice disorder.
Early intervention is key, but too often families are told to “wait and see.” These programs help break that cycle—equipping caregivers with knowledge, tools, and encouragement to act early.
Impact So Far
The results speak volumes.
HEAR program participants:
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89% now feel well-prepared to address their child’s hearing needs (up from 46%).
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89% know where to seek help (up from 49%).
TALK program participants:
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83% now feel confident supporting their child’s speech and language development (up from 52%).
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85% know specific next steps if they have concerns about their child’s communication skills (up from 50%).
These numbers mean more children getting timely diagnoses, more families finding the right support, and better long-term outcomes for everyone.
A Win for Families Everywhere
We’re honored to have played a part in bringing these programs to life and to see ASHA’s work recognized on such a national stage. The Summit Award will be officially presented at ASAE’s annual Summit Awards Dinner on September 25, 2025.
Congratulations to ASHA—and to every family who has taken a step toward supporting their child’s communication journey. We’re proud to be in this together.
Families can sign up for free: Text HEAR or TALK to 274-448.