Success Stories
The birth of a child is one of the miracles of life that brings joy to parents and families. After Elizabeth's birth, her parents were overjoyed but remained in shock, denial, and unsure of their daughter’s future after she failed the newborn hearing screening.
"Thankfully, Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) recommended we go to Texas Hearing Institute," said Kelly Tobey, Elizabeth's mom. "I wanted Elizabeth to grow and have the ability to communicate with anyone she wanted at any time. I didn't want my daughter to be left out of anything. Texas Hearing Institute made my dream a reality."
"Because Elizabeth had hearing aids and she communicated fairly well, we enrolled her directly into a mainstream classroom. We wanted her to feel integrated and not different from other children," said Kelly Tobey.
Even so, Elizabeth felt like she was the only child in the world with hearing loss in her school. She realized she was not alone after attending events for Buddies at Texas Hearing. Her peers at Buddies at Texas Hearing inspired her and motivated her to dream big and do whatever she wants!
Due to early intervention and receiving hearing aids at just 7 weeks old on both her ears, Elizabeth's childhood has been quite normal. At 4 years old, she competed in gymnastics and is the current secretary of the National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) chapter at her school.
Elizabeth is a loving sibling to her older sister, Abigail, and younger brother, Ethan. She's smart, creative, and a hard worker. She doesn't let her moderate hearing loss stop her from following her dreams. She enjoys cooking and even has plans to audition for a cooking show. When she grows up, she wants to be a marine biologist and own a ranch. Go, Elizabeth!"
Marcos was hard of hearing for most of his life. Unfortunately, his financial situation prevented him from receiving the proper medical care to be fitted with a hearing aid. After moving to Houston with his two brothers, Marcos found Texas Hearing Institute.
Marcos was fitted with two hearing aids through Sound Futures, a program that provides free hearing aids, as well as audiological services, including evaluations, fitting, and maintenance instructions for hearing devices. Marcos is currently on track to graduate high school this spring.
Thanks to our audiology experts, the staff at Liberty High School, and the many professionals at Baylor College of Medicine’s ENT Department, Marcos is able to better communicate with his family and peers and has gained the courage to further his academic career. Marcos is grateful for the unconditional support and courage Texas Hearing Institute has given him throughout this entire process.
“I received my cochlear implant at the age of 2 ½ years old in 1990. After visiting The Melinda Webb School at Texas Hearing Institute, my parents knew this was where I needed to be. We moved to Houston so I could enroll into the school and I succeeded as a student with the support of my teachers at both The Melinda Webb School and St. Anne’s. Because of the expertise of my teachers, speech pathologists, and support staff at Texas Hearing Institute, professionals and clients in my field are amazed that I have hearing loss. Thank you to Texas Hearing Institute for their part in my success in life!"