Our newest HTW Ambassador....

What do I know about Joey McIntyre?  Until recently not a lot beyond the fact that he was my sister's favourite in the early 90's boy band "New Kids on the Block".  Lately however Joey has made his way back on to my radar; no, my sister hasn't dusted off his posters in light of their recent reunion tours (her husband wouldn't approve), but rather the fact that Joey has become one of our Hear the World Ambassadors.  Joey's endorsement comes along with deep personal significance as his son Rhys was born with a severe hearing loss.  Joey has a become a strong voice in his mission to raise awareness on behalf of children with hearing loss, and we are extremely grateful for his support.

After his son Rhys was born with severe hearing loss, Joey McIntyre made it his mission to educate the public about the importance of early diagnosis, as well as solutions available to treat hearing loss in children.

"As a musician, music – and the ability to hear it – is the cornerstone of my life, so when my son was diagnosed with severe hearing loss, I wasn't sure how to handle it," said McIntyre. "Thankfully, because of today's advanced hearing aid technology, I don't have to worry about my son missing a beat. That is why I am honored to join Hear the World in their mission to educate the public about hearing loss and the solutions available to treat it."

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, hearing loss is the number one birth defect in the United States – nearly 33 babies are born every day with permanent hearing loss, 1 in 1,000 have a profound hearing loss and another 2 to 3 in 1,000 have partial hearing loss. Children with hearing loss have increased difficulties with verbal and nonverbal communication skills, increased behavioral problems, decreased psychosocial well-being and lower educational attainment compared to children with normal hearing.

"The most critical period for speech and language development is from birth to four years of age, which is why it’s important to recognize the signs of hearing loss in infants and toddlers as early as possible," says Dr. Craig Kasper, Au.D., Chief Audiology Officer at Audio Help Hearing Centers in New York City and spokesperson for Hear the World. "Parents are often the first to sense that their child has a hearing problem. If you suspect that your child may have hearing loss, call your local hearing health professional to set-up a hearing screening and to learn more about available solutions."

Watch an interview with Joey as well as his Public Service Announcement here:

http://www.hear-the-world.com/en/the-initiative/the-ambassadors/joey-mcintyre-partners-with-hear-the-world.html