About
The National Center for Hearing Innovation (NCHI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the landscape of hearing health care in the United States.
Our mission is bold but clear: to make cochlear implants (CIs) the standard of care for eligible children and adults with hearing loss and to ensure that comprehensive support systems are in place for every individual to thrive.
Despite decades of progress in hearing technology, the U.S. still lags behind much of the developed world in both cochlear implant utilization and access to critical follow-up services like therapy, education, and family support. NCHI exists to change that.
Through a comprehensive, integrated approach, NCHI brings together all key stakeholders—patients, caregivers, educators, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers—to advance access, equity, and excellence in hearing care. Our work spans five core areas:
NCHI is based in Washington, DC, and is affiliated with The River School and Potomac River Clinic. Together, these institutions form a powerful ecosystem committed to ensuring that every individual with hearing loss has access to the technologies, interventions, and care they need to reach their full potential.
Mission
The mission of the National Center for Hearing Innovation (NCHI) is to change the lives of children and adults with hearing loss through improved awareness and timely access to innovations across technologies, interventions and education.
Vision
NCHI's vision is to make cochlear implants the standard of care for eligible children and adults with hearing loss in the United States, conducting outcomes research of those with cochlear implants and disseminating findings to establish efficacy for consumers, policymakers and insurers.
History
The National Center for Hearing Innovation (NCHI) began as a bold initiative by The River School Board in October 2007. With a vision to share and expand the River model, which integrates early childhood education with innovative listening and spoken language practices, the Board established the Task Force for Replication to explore opportunities for national impact.
From 2008 to 2011, River founder Nancy Mellon led more than 100 meetings on Capitol Hill, engaging with members of Congress, key committee staff, and leaders from the U.S. Departments of Health & Human Services and Education. These efforts laid critical groundwork for federal awareness and support of programs serving children who are deaf and hard of hearing.
To broaden its reach and enable pursuit of federal and industry funding, the Task Force was incorporated in April 2010 as a separate 501(c)(3) organization under the name River ACCESS. Just one year later, in May 2011, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), at River's request, published a pivotal report: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children – Federal Support for Developing Language and Literacy—bringing national attention to the need for early and equitable access to language.
In 2019, recognizing the evolving scope of its work, the organization adopted a new name: The National Center for Hearing Innovation. This change reflects our continued commitment to advancing early identification, language development, and educational outcomes for all children with hearing loss.
What's Next
The National Center for Hearing Innovation, in collaboration with its partner organizations, is looking to expand to a new campus, which will serve as a physical hub for hearing innovation in our nation’s capital.