HEAR Wisconsin, Inc.

For nearly 100 years, HEAR Wisconsin has provided critical services to children and adults with hearing loss throughout Wisconsin. Its mission is to help infants, children, and adults by eliminating communication and language barriers through personalized services, technology, and education. Because there is no one right way for every person or family to cope with the challenges of hearing loss, HEAR Wisconsin provides services across the spectrum of communication and technology options. At HEAR Wisconsin, clients and patients have the opportunity to make decisions and select a treatment plan that best meets their needs and goals. Our diverse team of professionals includes Speech-Language Pathologists, Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapists, Audiologists, and other specialists in Deaf education and assistive technology.

HEAR Wisconsin has five core programs:

Kellogg Child & Family Program – provides appropriate early intervention services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The team include Listening and Spoken Language certified, auditory-verbal therapists and speech-language pathologists and sign language instructors. Services are provided in the facility and in natural environments including homes, daycares, and schools. For families in remote, rural areas, we offer services via the internet through our teleintervention program. Parents learn from the specialized professionals how to encourage their child’s development of communication, auditory, language, cognitive, speech and social skills so they can be on par with their hearing peers as they enter kindergarten.

Audiology Clinic and Assistive Technology Center – provide an integrated experience for clients and patients needing audiology services and/or consultation services for assistive technology equipment to be used in the home, work or other environments.

 Our team includes doctors of audiology and assistive technology experts who will determine what works best for the clients and patients based on their hearing loss and communication needs.

Mobile Audiology Clinic (NEW!) - HEAR Wisconsin launched the state’s first Community Mobile Audiology Clinic (MAC) in 2021. MAC increases coverage and access to hearing healthcare services, especially for low-income, uninsured, and underserved populations. MAC solves the transportation issue by bringing the hearing care professional and equipment directly to the patient.

 The wheelchair-accessible clinic can serve up to 6 people at once. The mobile clinic provides care coordination across social/healthcare delivery systems through partnerships to provide on-site services at homeless shelters, free clinics, neighborhood associations, schools, senior centers, health fairs, etc. MAC helps close the loop by offering 360 degree care through coverage for hearing aids and assistive technology for low/no cost to qualified residents. Medicaid, Medicare and private insurances provides little or no coverage for hearing aids to alleviate the financial burden of purchasing hearing aids.

 In addition, as part of MAC’s future sustainability, HEAR Wisconsin is partnering with companies to provide fee-for-service hearing conservation services (required OSHA testing) for their employees who work in environments with high noise levels.

Adult Day Services – Community Access for the Deaf – program addresses the special needs of adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who also have hearing loss. The Program Coordinator, fluent in American Sign Language, works with clients in the areas of daily living skills, literacy, communication skills and job coaching. The program, in existence for nearly 20 years, is the only one in the state that specifically works with this population.