Otolaryngology
Cincinnati Children's Hearing Aid Trust (CCHAT)

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Cincinnati Children’s Hearing Aid Trust (CCHAT) & Early Hearing Intervention

The Cincinnati Children’s Hearing Aid Trust (CCHAT) strives to provide Ohio children, from birth to age 3, with their first set of hearing aids for free. CCHAT has partnered with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), Ohio Early Intervention, the Quota International of Massillon, OH program "Sound Beginnings," the Regional Infant Hearing Programs (RIHP), Phonak, Oticon, Cochlear, Oticon Medical and individual sponsors to make this goal a reality.

Early hearing intervention in children with confirmed hearing loss is critical, yet the financial challenges associated with obtaining hearing aids can be burdensome. CCHAT and its partners are devoted to helping families overcome financial obstacles that might prevent their children from receiving hearing aids.

Our Inspiration

In 2004, the state of Ohio implemented universal newborn hearing screening. Since then,  the number of infants identified with hearing loss at birth has doubled. In Ohio, an estimated 450 children a year will be diagnosed with permanent hearing loss that could be managed with hearing aids. Unfortunately, state and federal agencies provide only limited support for interventions such as hearing aids.

As a result, staff at Cincinnati Children’s recognized a need to identify additional sources of funding for children who might otherwise be denied coverage for hearing aids. The known benefits of early intervention (particularly for hearing, speech and language development), underscores the importance of fitting children with hearing aids as early as possible.

In the first few years of life, hearing is a critical part of a child's social, emotional and cognitive development. Even a mild or partial hearing loss can affect a child's ability to speak and understand language. Hearing loss is the most common congenital anomaly found in newborns. The good news is, hearing problems can be treated if they're caught early - ideally by the time a baby is three months old. So, it's important to get your child's hearing screened early and evaluated regularly.

CCHAT will facilitate shipment of a hearing aid(s) directly to the practicing audiologist. CCHAT has partnered with Phonak and Oticon to provide patients with hearing aids. CCHAT will also help you develop a savings plan for future needs.

Cincinnati Children’s is one of America’s top children’s hospitals for general pediatrics and is highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report for our expertise in digestive diseases, respiratory diseases, cancer, neonatal care, heart care and neurosurgery. As one of the three largest children’s hospitals in the United States, we are affiliated with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and we are one of the top two recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health. Cincinnati Children’s is a national and international referral center for complex cases; children with the most difficult-to-treat diseases and conditions receive the most advanced care, leading to better outcomes.

CCHAT also collaborates with partners outside Cincinnati Children’s, including:

  • The Ohio Department of Health. Its mission is to protect and improve the health of all Ohioans.
  • Help Me Grow. An early intervention program for Ohio’s expectant parents, newborns, infants and toddlers.  It provides health and developmental services.
  • Quota International of Massillon, OH − Sound Beginnings program. A program based out of Stark County, OH, with a mission similar to CCHAT's − to ensure that young children with hearing loss receive their first amplification as soon as possible to begin critical early intervention services.
  • Regional Infant Hearing Programs. Assist families in connecting with audiologists and community resources to ensure early identification of hearing loss.
  • The Phonak Group. Specializes in the design, development, production and worldwide distribution of technologically advanced wireless and hearing systems.
  • Oticon. The oldest hearing aid manufacturer in the world. The Oticon Foundation is the majority shareholder of Oticon and is committed to supporting the needs of people with hearing impairments.

Contact Us

Kelly Brockman
Program Coordinator
CCHAT
MLC 2018
3333 Burnet Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45229

Phone: 513-636-CHAT (2428)
Fax: 513-636-8133

Email: cchat@cchmc.org

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3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026

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