{alltv} NKOTB Singer Opens Up About Son's Hearing Loss

New Kids on the Block singer Joey McIntyre and his wife Barrett got an early Christmas present last December when their youngest son Rhys Edward McIntyre was born.

The baby seemed happy and healthy, but then 10 days later a newborn hearing screening revealed a problem. Rhys was born with profound hearing loss.

"I think we both were obviously incredibly shocked," said Barrett McIntyre.

"You're in shock," said the pop singer. "We just don't know how to react."

With no known cause, the couple ran through the gamut of emotions.

"How do we even wrap our heads around this?" said Barrett. "And I think, you know, as days went by, your emotions and your feelings about the situation change drastically."

"These kinds of experiences -- they open your heart up, your mind up, your life up," Joey McIntyre said.

The experience has also given the family new purpose: To help other families like them.

Because of this, they decided to team up with Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary to get the word out about newborn hearing screening and to help launch the new Cures for Kids Fund.

"It's just helping out and making sure that people in the field have what they need to keep going and keep doing their work," said Joey McIntyre.

"It's important to screen children when they are first born for hearing because something can actually be done about it," said Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Dr. Donald Keamy. "Hearing plays a large role in development in children."

The McIntyres are thankful for the technology that diagnosed Rhys' condition early. That technology originated at the infirmary and has helped improved Rhys' condition.

"He's a normal 10-month-old kid," said Joey McIntyre. "He's climbing around and getting into everything, and he's happy."

The McIntyres hope telling their story will produce similar outcomes for other children born with disabilities.

"To be here in my hometown and to be able to help an institution like this is really special," Joey McIntyre added.

Joey McIntyre, along with the other New Kids on the Block, will be performing Wednesday at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary's Sense-sation Gala. It benefits the Cures for Kids Fund.

More Information:

Cures For Kids Fund