Francisco Montilla

Breaking the Silence for Kids with Hearing Loss

I first heard about Loud Shirt Day through my child’s childcare centre. It’s the boldest, brightest fundraiser across Australia and New Zealand, raising funds and awareness for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The money raised goes towards life-changing services like speech therapy, audiology, early intervention and family support, helping kids with hearing loss gain the tools they need to thrive.

I decided to get involved because I live with hearing loss myself. When I was five, I lost all hearing in my left ear after a car accident. Growing up, I didn’t have access to the kinds of support available today, such as therapy or specialised interventions. As a result, I still struggle with some aspects of hearing and speaking.

It wasn’t until only a couple of years ago that I finally sought help and received an implant. While it didn’t “fix” my non-stereo condition, it did improve my overall hearing. That experience made me realise that what I had carried in silence my whole life was, in fact, a disability.

Hearing loss is often an invisible disability. People don’t always realise why I sometimes miss parts of a conversation or mispronounce certain sounds—it’s simply because I can’t hear them. Raising awareness helps create understanding, reduces stress for people with hearing loss, and makes communication easier for everyone.

From speech therapy to hearing aids, to today’s advances like implants, every bit of support can make a huge difference. That’s why I’m proud to be part of this cause.

I’ve set up a fundraising page with a goal of $1,000 for Loud Shirt Day on October 17th, and I’d love your support in helping kids with hearing loss get the opportunities I never had.