RES-ASHA-FAMILY — ASHA Family Resource Programs — EAT, HEAR, and Identify the Signs Texting Services
What does RES-ASHA-FAMILY say?
ASHA sponsors several free, evidence-based texting programs that SLPs and audiologists can recommend to families — a practical way to meet ethical obligations around caregiver education, early identification, and providing credible information (ASHA Code of Ethics Principle I).
1) EAT (with nonprofit Lantern, mylantern.org/eat): for caregivers of children ages 6 months to 5 years. One text per week for five months with practical, evidence-based feeding guidance written in plain language by ASHA-certified SLPs with pediatric feeding/swallowing expertise. Topics include expanding a child's diet, developmentally expected picky eating, responsive feeding, and red flags for pediatric feeding disorder that warrant professional evaluation (limited food variety, frequent coughing during meals, stressful or prolonged mealtimes). For SLPs, EAT reinforces guidance between visits and supports caregiver follow-through.
2) HEAR (with Bright by Text and Idaho State University's HATCH Lab): for families of infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing. Provides trusted information on communication options and development support. Context: about 3 in 1,000 U.S. babies are born with detectable hearing loss; more than 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents; per the CDC about 1 in 4 infants who do not pass newborn screening are lost to follow-up or documentation. Children identified at birth who begin early intervention before 6 months often develop language on par with typically hearing peers.
3) Identify the Signs bilingual texting service (with Bright by Text, brightbytext.org): free English and Spanish texts for parents concerned about a child's speech and language development — age-tailored milestones, signs of speech/language disorders, and guidance on seeking SLP evaluation (including free/low-cost services under IDEA; provider search at asha.org/profind). Context: about 11% of children ages 3–6 have a speech, language, voice, or swallowing disorder, and speech/language impairment is the most common IDEA disability category for ages 3–5. Early treatment generally takes less time, costs less, and offers the best outcomes.
Official source: read the full text in the ASHA Code of Ethics (2023) (official document).