Meet Whittaker. He’s 4 years old and was just diagnosed with hearing loss.

Whittaker has both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, meaning hearing aids are not optional, they are medically necessary for his speech, learning, and development. Doctors don’t yet know the cause or whether his hearing will continue to decline, which makes ongoing care critical.

Insurance is denying coverage due to a policy exclusion, and the only path forward with insurance restarts the process, delays his appointments and access to aids by months or they can move forward with what’s been done at CHOA and pay entirely out of pocket.

Estimated costs:

• ~$10,000 upfront for hearing aids

• ~$11,000 total in the first year

• $2,000–$3,000 per year ongoing

Early access to hearing matters. Delays can permanently impact speech, language, and learning.

We’re raising funds to cover hearing aids, appointments, and ongoing care so Whittaker can hear, learn, and thrive. Any support or share truly makes a difference.

Thank you for helping Whittaker hear the world.