Billy Hearn to speak at Power of Speech event highlighting need for support for children with hearing loss

A North Queensland boy born with a condition causing progressive hearing loss will speak at Parliament House in Canberra this week, bravely sharing his story and advocating for children with hearing loss.

Billy Hearn speaking at the Power of Speech event in Brisbane in March. He will address federal parliament this week.

For nine-year-old Billy Hearn, life in Ayr is a whirlwind of family, friends, sports, and zooming around the beach on his four-wheeler.

But this Wednesday, Billy’s voice will echo far beyond his hometown as he takes the stage at Parliament House in Canberra to advocate for better support for children with hearing loss.

Billy was born with enlarged vestibular aqueducts, meaning he would suffer from progressive hearing loss.

Initially fitted with hearing aids, Billy required a hearing test every three months. A bump to the head or other injuries would impact his hearing, with steroid injections used in an effort to bring his hearing levels back.

Billy Hearn speaking at the Power of Speech event in Brisbane in March. He will address federal parliament this week.

At age three, Billy’s mum, Marsha Hearn, and her husband, Clayton, decided he would receive bilateral cochlear implants. He wears them throughout the day and removes them while sleeping. Waterproof covers allow him to shower and swim as normal.

Ms Hearn said the implants were life-changing, allowing Billy to lead a normal life.

“They definitely do not hold him back,” she said.

“He will talk in his speech about some of his frustrations, where there are some times he may miss something that his friend will say if it’s noisy at school, but he still plays sports and participates in everything that his friends do.”

She credits the hearing and speech therapy organisation Hear and Say as game-changers on Billy’s road to success.

“I don’t know where we’d probably be without them, to be honest,” she said.

Billy Hearn speaking at the Power of Speech event in Brisbane in March. He will address federal parliament this week.

“They were amazing in terms of their education and their mapping. It’s been a journey to ensure that he’s on the road to success, so we are very proud of him.”

Bringing even more pride to his parents, Billy is one of six children from across Australia and New Zealand who will speak in front of 30 parliamentarians, including Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler.

The ‘Power of Speech’ event, organised by regional organisation First Voice, will allow each of the children to share their story and highlight the importance of early intervention support and education for parents and families. It will also aim to break the stigma and preconceptions surrounding hearing loss.

Ms Hearn said that even though Billy is shy, he is excited and ready to speak at the event.

“When Hear and Say did ask us if Billy would be interested, I thought I’ll ask Billy because he is nine and he can make his own decisions,” she said.

“I was thinking to myself, he is so shy, maybe he won’t want to do it. But he was so up for it, he was like, ‘I can do this, I’ve got this, so we are just immensely proud of him.”

Billy Hearn speaking at the Power of Speech event in Brisbane in March. He address federal parliament this week.

“He is raising awareness of the success of cochlear implants and showing how children with hearing loss can use speech therapy and the amazing resources to be the best they can be.”

Ms Hearn said she would love to see more support and education for parents of children with hearing loss.

She said parents who have a newborn who fails a hearing test should have more information given to them about the different routes, including cochlear implants, hearing aids and the decisions to learn sign language.

“It’s a whirlwind when you are given that diagnosis,” she said.

“More parents need to be informed about what services are available and what the possible outcomes for each are, to allow them to make the best decision for their child.”

With other children speaking, Ms Hearn said the event would be a great chance for Billy to connect with others like himself who have hearing loss.

“There are a lot of kids who go through the same journey as him, so this will be a wonderful opportunity for him to meet other kids his age with cochlear implants,” she said.

Originally published as Billy Hearn to speak at Power of Speech event highlighting need for support for children with hearing loss