#USA #Philadelphia #Oberkotter Foundation #Hearing First #newborn hearing

Celebrating Five Years of Impact: The Starts Hear Campaign

The Starts Hear campaign, a significant public health initiative led by Hearing First, an initiative of the Oberkotter Foundation, is now celebrating its fifth anniversary. This campaign aims to raise awareness among expectant parents about the critical importance of newborn hearing screening (NHS) and offers guidance on next steps in the unfortunate event that a screening does not pass.

The Need for Awareness

With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting that over one-third of infants who fail the newborn hearing screening do not receive the necessary follow-up care, the campaign's role is crucial. Since its inception, Starts Hear has actively reached out to parents, enabling them to act quickly and seek timely follow-up screenings for their newborns.

Dr. Teresa Caraway, CEO of the Oberkotter Foundation, emphasizes the essential nature of hearing for a baby’s brain development. “Hearing is foundational for language acquisition and literacy. When a baby does not pass their screening, families need to be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to pursue follow-up care promptly,” she states.

The Starts Hear campaign strives to deliver key messages about the newborn hearing screening, its implications for early development, and the critical actions that need to be taken post-screening failure. This year, the campaign has continued to adapt and find new avenues of outreach, ensuring it connects with new and expectant families effectively.

Outreach Innovations

The campaign marked its fifth year with several innovative strategies:

• - Expansion of BabyCenter en Español: Efforts were made to reach the Spanish-speaking community with targeted messaging.
• - Expert Q&A Videos: These were showcased on Instagram and YouTube in collaboration with popular parenting resource, The Bump.
• - Creation of a Hearing Hub on BabyCenter: This hub serves as a centralized location for articles, videos, and resources aiming to educate families on the significance of newborn hearing and the urgency of follow-up care.

Campaign Metrics

In its first five years, the Starts Hear campaign has generated impressive metrics, reflecting its outreach and impact on families:

• - Over 1.2 billion total ad views
• - More than 506 million video views
• - Surpassing 2.4 million visits to the educational website StartsHear.org

These statistics highlight the campaign's effectiveness in disseminating crucial information to families about the neonatal hearing landscape.

Looking Ahead

The outlook for children with hearing loss is increasingly optimistic, thanks to significant advancements in listening and spoken language (LSL) outcomes. As early diagnosis and intervention become more standardized, the likelihood of successful outcomes improves dramatically.

By targeting expectant parents through proactive messaging and resources, the Starts Hear campaign continues to play an essential role in guiding families on their hearing journey, particularly during the formative early stages.

To dive deeper into the accomplishments and initiatives of the Starts Hear campaign, individuals can visit Hearing First's website for the latest insights and the Year Five Report.

Conclusion

Hearing First, through its dedicated team and community support, strives to provide every child with hearing loss the same chances in early language and literacy development as their hearing counterparts. With the ongoing support of initiatives like the Starts Hear campaign, the future shines bright for our children as they embark on their journey towards better hearing and communication abilities.