NASHVILLE, TN — Hearing loss and tinnitus remain two of the most common service-connected disabilities among veterans and active duty personnel. More than 1.3 million veterans are living with service-connected hearing loss, and over 2.3 million with tinnitus—conditions that impact readiness, communication, and quality of life long after service.
It was May 2011 when former Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher took the stage as emcee for The LexCare Hearing Foundation’s (formerly Songs for Sound) first annual Hear the Music Gala. Coach Fisher shared his own story of living with unilateral deafness as the star-studded audience learned about one little girl’s complex journey to something as simple as a hearing test, and the birth of a movement.
That little girl was Lexi Vernon—now nearing her 18th birthday. Missed at birth for her newborn hearing screening, Lexi’s parents were told repeatedly to “wait and come back in six to nine months.” By her first birthday, she still hadn’t spoken a word and didn’t respond to sounds like the family dog barking. Once again, her mother, Jaime Motes, was told, “She’s fine. Some kids just talk late.”
Frustrated and determined, Jaime pushed for further testing at Vanderbilt Pediatric Audiology, where—just shy of 14 months old—Lexi was finally diagnosed as profoundly deaf. She had never heard a lullaby. Before the age of two, Lexi received bilateral cochlear implants by Dr. David Haynes, heard her first whispers, and began learning spoken language. Today, she’s an honors student preparing to graduate high school.
Lexi’s story sparked a movement. Fifteen years later, her journey has inspired a national mission that has helped nearly 34,000 people receive free hearing screenings and personalized Care Team guidance.
“We give everyone what Lexi didn’t have,” says Motes. “We start a conversation with a simple hearing screening, then our Care Team walks with them through their hearing journey.”
Among those most at risk are our veterans. Today, the Foundation’s Hearoes Tour dedicates the majority of its resources to serving the nation’s heroes through partnerships with VA clinics, community events, and hearing health organizations across the U.S.
As the nation honors those who served, The 10th Annual Hearoes Tour, a free hearing health outreach mission that launched in August 2025, will host 250+ events through December 2026 nationwide helping veterans reconnect with the world around them.
Since 2015, the Hearoes Tour has provided over 34,000 free hearing screenings across 35 states and 1,100+ events, partnering with over 750 VA clinics and community organizations to increase awareness, access, and action for those living with untreated hearing loss.
Services include:
- Quick, accurate self-guided hearing screenings with immediate results
- On-site guidance outlining “next steps” based on screening outcomes
- Personalized follow-up from our Care Team, including:
- Referrals to audiologists or VA hearing clinics
- Help navigating VA benefits and hearing aid coverage
- Ongoing guidance and resources for long-term hearing health
- Information on hearing aids, cochlear implants, tinnitus relief and other technologies
“We recently guided an 89 year-old Korean War veteran with severe hearing loss to one of our partner VA clinics,” said Motes. “Our Care Team Leader, Molli, helped make the appointment for him on a three-way call with the VA. On the call, he cried. He couldn’t hear well enough and said no one is ever patient with him.”
The veteran said, “you are an angel. I can’t hear prompts on the phone to even make an appointment.”
“That is our difference. No one is left behind. I wanted to create something that gives everyone everything we didn’t have when navigating Lexi’s hearing loss journey.” said Motes.
Hearing loss and tinnitus remain the #1 and #2 service-connected disabilities among veterans, yet up to 80–90% of people with hearing loss never seek help. Top issues are lack of awareness, access to care and confusion about options.
The Hearoes Tour, focused on awareness, access and action, is breaking that cycle by bringing hearing care directly to VA clinics, veteran centers, and rural communities — all at no cost. Last week, the tour made a stop at a VA clinic that had audiology on-site, yet it served over 30 veterans who had not accessed hearing care at the VA.
“I actually served at this VA clinic last week with my team,” Motes shared. “Out of all the awareness signs in the lobby, not one mentioned hearing loss—a top disability. Seventy percent of the veterans we serve have some level of hearing loss, and a shocking ten percent need to be counseled about cochlear implants, like the Korean War veteran we helped. The link to dementia from untreated hearing loss is very real and deeply concerning.”
In a study that tracked 639 adults for nearly 12 years, Johns Hopkins experts found that mild hearing loss doubled dementia risk. Moderate loss tripled risk, and people with a severe hearing impairment were five times more likely to develop dementia.
The Foundation’s work is proudly supported by Cochlear Americas, CaptionCall by Sorenson, Lenire by Neuromod, Shoebox Audiometry, Sertoma Club of Nashville, and two philanthropic partners — The Boedecker Foundation and The Milligan Family Foundation — all organizations deeply committed to improving hearing health and supporting veterans nationwide.
“Supporting The LexCare Hearing Foundation’s mission helps us reach individuals who might otherwise remain undiagnosed and untreated,” said Scott Housley, Vice President of Marketing at Cochlear Americas. “We’re proud to stand behind a cause that brings hearing care to those who’ve given so much for our country.”
This Veterans Day and end of year giving, LexCare invites local companies and individuals to join the “100 for One Million Ears” campaign — 100 partners contributing $1,000 each to help expand hearing care access to 8,000+ veterans, VA staff, and community members through more than 200 events in 2025–2026.
“Hearing health greatly affects veterans, seniors and underserved children, all of whom we serve.” Motes added.
Learn more about all of the Foundation’s PROGRAMS HERE.
We operate with a small but mighty team, and if you’re passionate about hearing loss, we invite you to join our movement—through a gift of any amount, volunteering your time, or supporting us as a company sponsor. Our current goal is 8,333 pledges of $10 a month (or one-time gifts of $120) and 100 companies contributing $1,000 each (or any amount) before December 31st.
When you give, you’re not just making a donation—you’re helping a veteran, senior citizen or underserved child—reconnect with their loved ones, access life-changing care, and experience a better quality of life.
Consider supporting this mission HERE. Donations of $120 or greater than will be featured on the new “Giving Wall” traveling with our new mobile unit in 2026. SEE IT HERE.
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