Gift of Communication
Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist Hannah Talbot’s days are filled with opportunities to change the lives of young children. Resources from Inova’s Patient Support Fund recently allowed Hannah and her colleagues to give two young children the gift of communication.
The patients, both of whom came to the US as school-aged children, had experienced profound hearing loss from birth. With hearing families who speak Spanish exclusively at home and teachers and peers using American Sign Language to connect, neither child had any consistent way to communicate their feelings, needs and desires.
In treatment, both patients used iPads with specialized software, allowing them to communicate with pictures. “They immediately understand how to navigate it because it’s set up categorically. It’s very visual,” Hannah says.
Through the Patient Support Fund, which provides financial assistance to patients facing hardships, Inova provided devices for them to take home. Hannah recalls the moment she first gave a device to a patient, whose mother couldn’t imagine that it was theirs to keep. “The mom started crying, saying she now believes that her son can grow up to be independent,” Hannah says. “She was so excited because he was able to tell her what he wanted for his birthday for the first time.”
For some patients, the cost—$822 for a device and software—is a barrier, and if they’re uninsured or items are not covered by insurance, they continue living without reliable access to communication.
“Communication is a basic human right,” Hannah asserts. “What we’re doing is allowing them to access language. They’re smart kids. They have bright ideas and thoughts. They just had no way to communicate them.”
Supported entirely through philanthropy, the Patient Support Fund is one key way clinicians provide resources to current patients with the greatest needs. Among other things, in 2024 this fund saved 40 Inova patients from eviction (helping more pay utility bills), provided emergency food (including baby formula) and covered medications for 303 cancer patients through Inova Schar Cancer’s pharmacy. This kind of support – provided for patients already in our care – helps to ensure the best possible healing outcomes.
“At Inova, we believe that financial hardship should not be a barrier to a healthy outcome,” says Lindsay Wright, Director of Operations at Inova Health Foundation. “Thanks to the compassionate generosity of our donors, we offer patients and families a light in their darkest times—a lifeline to hope, dignity and well-being.”
Funding for patient support is one of Inova’s Greatest Needs and a vital part of Do. More. Together., Inova’s $500M fundraising campaign, dedicated to elevating the highest quality care for every patient we have the privilege to serve.