In the heart of Oklahoma, a transformative mission is underway — one that ensures every child with hearing loss has access to early intervention services, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.
Founded in 2003, Hearts for Hearing was created in response to an Oklahoma law requiring newborn hearing screenings that passed in 2000, and they stepped in where insurance providers would not — offering children their first set of hearing technology and the ongoing services needed to thrive.
A mission that listens to every child
Hearts for Hearing’s mission is simple: Empowering individuals through life-changing hearing health to listen for a lifetime. Their vision, “advancing hearing healthcare for all,” guides their efforts to make high-quality services accessible from birth through adulthood.
But it’s their commitment to children with hearing loss, especially in those first critical years of life, that makes their work truly unique.
Why early intervention matters
Hearing loss is the most common birth anomaly, affecting 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 babies. In Oklahoma, that means about 150 babies are born each year with hearing loss, most of them to hearing parents, who are often shocked by the diagnosis.
“When we think about children with hearing loss from birth to 3, the brain grows the most,” noted Darcy Stowe, the interim chief executive officer of Hearts for Hearing. “If children can get a timely diagnosis and begin to receive the necessary help and intensive interventions, those children should be able to enter mainstream kindergarten.”
Hearts for Hearing ensures that no financial barrier stands in the way of this crucial help. Their services — speech therapy, audiology and caregiver coaching — start as early as a few weeks old and are designed to give every child the opportunity to learn to listen and talk.
The scope of their work
Hearts for Hearing delivers comprehensive services across Oklahoma to ensure children with hearing loss receive expert care and lasting support.
“One of the most powerful aspects of their therapy is that it’s caregiver-centered, coaching families on how to build a language-rich environment at home,” said Stowe. “Therapy isn’t just about the hour-long session; it’s about equipping parents to support their child every single day.”
- Hearts for Hearing provides newborn hearing screenings at 15 birthing hospitals across the state.
- They serve over 10,000 children a year who need hearing tests, and more than 2,000 children with confirmed hearing loss.
- They operate fully equipped clinics in Oklahoma City, Norman and Tulsa, as well as a Mobile Care Clinic, serving families in all 77 counties each year.
- They offer a unique reverse mainstream preschool program, called Bridges, and a language-rich summer camp to keep kids connected and supported.
- All of their speech pathologists are either certified or pursuing certification as listening and spoken language specialists, ensuring expert-level care for every child.
A place to connect, grow and celebrate
One of the most beloved and impactful programs at Hearts for Hearing is their annual summer camp, held each June in Oklahoma City. This four-day, language-rich day camp is designed for children who are currently in therapy or who have graduated, ranging in age from kindergarten through preteen.
While it’s filled with fun, the camp’s deeper purpose is connection.
Many children with hearing loss are the only one in their school. This camp offers them a chance to meet others just like them, share their experiences and build friendships rooted in understanding and shared journeys.
Even more inspiring, many of the counselors and volunteers were once campers themselves, now returning to mentor the next generation. It’s a powerful full-circle moment.
Community support & adult services that give back
Although Hearts for Hearing serves people of all ages, their commitment to children remains at the core. In fact, proceeds from adult hearing services go directly to support pediatric care, a sustainable model that allows more children to receive help, regardless of their insurance or financial situation.
Adults who choose to receive their hearing care from Hearts for Hearing aren’t just improving their own quality of life; they’re investing in a child’s future.
Growing to serve even more
In January 2026, Hearts for Hearing will open the doors to a new, expanded Oklahoma City clinic. This innovative space will double their current footprint, increase capacity for both pediatric and adult services, and house an expanded Research Institute under the leadership of Dr. Renee Gifford.
One of the most striking features of the new building will be a 53-foot tower featuring an illuminated sculpture of a soundwave, symbolizing a “celebration of sound.” It will light up at night every time someone receives the gift of hearing, a visual reminder of the lives changed within those walls.
To learn more, donate or get involved, visit heartsforhearing.org or follow them on social media @HeartsForHearing.
