Let’s Talk About Credit—and Who Deserves It

I had a powerful conversation with a mom recently. Her child has been using low-gain hearing aids for the past nine months, and the transformation has been incredible. His spelling has improved. His articulation has taken off. And he just won first place in a 4-H public speaking contest.

The mom said, “I give all the credit to the hearing aids.”

But I paused.

Because while yes—hearing clearly for the first time made a huge difference—it’s not the hearing aids that did the learning.

It was him.

The device simply removed a barrier. Like a walking stick helping someone across a rocky creek—it made the path safer, more stable. But the child still had to walk it. He had to be brave enough to try. To risk stumbling. To accept help. To keep going.

That’s not passive. That’s strength.

I never want a child to believe they are just a passenger in their own success story. Tools help. But tools only work if someone picks them up and uses them.

So to that amazing kid—and every other one out there doing the work, sometimes quietly, often with extra hurdles—I see you. I see your effort. And I hope you do too.

You’re not just benefiting from a device. You’re building something real—with courage, grit, and self-advocacy.

And that deserves the credit.