The Motivation Behind Our Work
What We Believe

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The Oberkotter Foundation believes that early listening and learning are critical to a child’s brain development and to a bright future with limitless opportunities.

Our work has always been driven by the passionate belief that children who are deaf or hard of hearing should have opportunities to reach their full potential through listening and spoken language. The Foundation's initiatives align with the latest science and research that reinforce what is possible for children with hearing loss today.

We Believe:

  • Expectant parents should be aware of the newborn hearing screening; the link between brain development, hearing, spoken language, and literacy; and what to do should their baby fail the screening.  
  • All infants should receive a newborn hearing screening prior to discharge from the hospital or immediately after birth and have access to rescreening as warranted.
  • Infants who fail their newborn hearing screening should have appropriate audiological evaluations to confirm their hearing status within three weeks and no later than three months of age.
  • By the time an infant identified with hearing loss is six weeks old and no later than six months old, that child’s family should:
    • Have access to high-quality, well-fitted and optimized hearing technology for their child through a qualified pediatric audiologist;
    • Receive complete information regarding the communication approach that best fits their desired outcomes for their child;
    • Be enrolled in appropriate early intervention services.
  • No matter the child’s age at identification, families of children with hearing loss should have timely access, complete information, and appropriate intervention services.
  • Pediatric audiology, Listening and Spoken Language (LSL), and other professionals should provide coordinated care to ensure everyone is working together and the child and family are receiving the comprehensive services and support necessary to optimize outcomes.
  • Professionals should provide services with consideration for a family’s strengths, emotional needs, informed choices, language traditions, cultural beliefs, and personal circumstances with regard to transportation, finances, food security, home stability, and other needs.
  • Pediatric audiologists should follow comprehensive evidence-based and best practice protocols in serving young children who are deaf or hard of hearing, including:
    • Follow-up screenings;
    • Timely audiological evaluations;
    • Counseling for families on the specifics of the child’s hearing loss and recommended hearing technology;
    • Early fitting of appropriate hearing technology;
    • Ongoing audiological management.
  • All families choosing LSL should be able to:

    Receive intervention services from a qualified professional who has appropriate LSL knowledge and skills, uses current evidence-based practices, and provides ongoing surveillance of a child’s progress.

    Have easy and immediate access to connections with other families and professionals for reliable support and knowledgeable guidance throughout their journey.

Today, infants born with hearing loss can achieve excellent listening, spoken language, literacy, academic, and social-emotional outcomes when their hearing loss is identified at birth, and they receive early audition-based intervention.

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