Wichita Falls is one of six cities in Texas to implement LENA solutions in Wichita County’s Parents as Teachers program (PAT), as well as the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters program (HIPPY). Mother Christina Moreno signed up for a second session after noticing great improvement in her children following the initial session.

Through the use of the LENA device which works as a talk pedometer, the number of words and conversational turns spoken are tracked throughout the day. Subsequently, parents are given data to better understand how they can improve their child’s linguistic development in the early years of life. In programs nationwide, LENA is helping to diminish the “talk gap” which limits a child’s cognitive, emotional, and social development, giving children a head start in school readiness. Wichita Falls began testing LENA Home in Fall of 2017, and will expand to Texas organizations like the Children’s Hospital in Houston.