Actual cover of Oakley Gets a Hearing Aid (and a Hearing Test Too!)
Meet Oakley! 🐾

Meet Oakley!

A Real Therapy Dog. A Children’s Book. A World of Hearing Adventures!

Meet Oakley, a trained and certified therapy dog who stars in the children’s book Oakley Gets a Hearing Aid (and a Hearing Test Too!)! Explore his story, discover helpful hearing-loss resources, and follow his real-life adventures.

Keep Exploring
Hearing-loss resources • Fun videos • Oakley’s adventures • Family-friendly learning
The real Oakley relaxing on the couch with his paws in front of him
A look inside the story

Take a Peek Inside Oakley’s Book! 📖

Meet the real Oakley, a trained and certified therapy dog who stars in the children's book Oakley Gets a Hearing Aid (and a Hearing Test Too!). In this fictional story, Oakley experiences a hearing test and gets his first hearing aid. Explore a few real pages below!

Book page: the audiologist examines Oakley's earsBook page: Oakley points to pictures during a hearing testBook page: Oakley learns he will need a hearing aid
Tap or click any page to enlarge and read it.
📖 Buy the Book
National Audiology Awareness Month poster featuring Oakley
National Audiology Awareness Month
OCTOBER • NATIONAL AUDIOLOGY AWARENESS MONTH

October Is All About Hearing, Helping & Celebrating! 💙

October is National Audiology Awareness Month! Audiologists help children and families learn about hearing, understand hearing test results, and explore hearing-care options. Oakley stars in a children's book designed to help make hearing tests and hearing aids feel familiar and less intimidating.

In the book, Oakley plays a dog with hearing loss who visits an audiologist, completes a hearing test, and gets his first hearing aid. The real Oakley is the four-legged actor behind the story!

Free Audiology Awareness Poster — Share the Message!

Help raise awareness of hearing health this October. Download Oakley’s poster to display in your clinic, school, or waiting room, or share the image on your social media pages.

🖨️ Download Printable Clinic Poster (PDF)📱 Download Social Media Image (JPG)
For parents and caregivers

Understanding Childhood Hearing Loss: Helpful Resources for Families

Learning about your child’s hearing can bring lots of questions. These outside resources offer information, parent connections, communication support, and examples to explore at your own pace.

Success for Kids with Hearing LossParent-focused articles, educational guidance, and practical information. Parent Support Community on FacebookA Facebook group for connecting with others; membership and access may be required. Hands & VoicesFamily support, advocacy, and resources for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. BabyHearing.orgInformation about infant and childhood hearing, testing, and next steps. Hearing First — Getting StartedEarly hearing support and resources for families interested in listening and spoken language. How to Read an AudiogramWatch the video on YouTube. Starkey Hearing Loss SimulatorEver wondered what hearing loss sounds like? Use this interactive demonstration to explore how different degrees of hearing loss can affect what you hear.

These links lead to independent organizations and resources. They are provided for education, not as endorsements or a replacement for individualized guidance from your child’s audiologist.

Watch the animation

Watch Oakley Come to Life! ▶

Watch Oakley’s animation, then discover how the real Oakley helped inspire a book that introduces children to hearing tests and hearing aids.

See the animation on YouTube ↗
Watch the full read-aloud

Storytime with Oakley! 📖

Curious about Oakley's book? Join pediatric audiologist and author Lisa Rylant, Au.D., and the real Oakley for a full reading of Oakley Gets a Hearing Aid (and a Hearing Test Too!).

Follow Oakley's character as he visits the audiologist, has his hearing tested, and receives his first hearing aid. See the story before choosing a copy for your home, classroom, or audiology office.

📖 Buy Your Copy on Amazon ↗

Click the picture to watch the complete reading on YouTube with its existing captions. The video opens in a new tab.

Oakley beside an open page of his children’s book▶ Watch the Full Book Reading on YouTube
The real Oakley standing on the couch with both ears visible
The real dog

Meet the Real Oakley! 🐾

Rescued from a Georgia shelter at just six months old, Oakley grew from a wild, energetic puppy into a trained and certified therapy dog! 🐾 He brings smiles and comfort to children in elementary schools, people living with dementia, and others he meets during therapy dog visits. He’s also a 14-breed mix, affectionately known as a “Pitty-pom”!

Did you know? In the book, Oakley acts as a dog with hearing loss—just as an actor plays a character in a movie. The real Oakley doesn’t use a hearing aid.

His favorite snack? Carrots! He also loves swimming, hiking, stealing shoes, playing ball, and meeting new friends.

Oakley’s book on a pediatric soundbooth table beside a colorful hearing-test display
For audiologists

Hey Audiologists! Did You Know Oakley Can Be Part of Your VRA Testing? 🐾

Did you know you can download Oakley’s animated character to use with compatible Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) equipment? Bring Oakley into your soundbooth! His fun animation can serve as a visual reinforcer during pediatric hearing tests. Check the download instructions and compatibility information before using it with your system.

Download Oakley’s VRA Animation ↗
An actual page from Oakley's children's book
The children's book

Little ears. Big courage.

Follow Oakley's fictional hearing test and hearing aid experience through real photographs and a reassuring story created by pediatric audiologist Lisa Rylant, Au.D.

For families, classrooms, and audiology clinics.

Get Your Copy ↗
October 26 • A special day

Happy 7th Birthday, Oakley! 🎂🐾

Oakley at a birthday celebration with a party hat and treats
October 26, 2026

Our favorite Pitty-pom is turning seven! From a lively rescue puppy to a therapy dog and children's book star, Oakley has brought years of laughter and love.

We're celebrating with a favorite birthday memory while we wait for pictures from his seventh-birthday celebration.

Oakley's idea of a perfect party? Probably plenty of treats—especially carrots! 🥕

A little seasonal fun

Oakley's Halloween Costume Parade! 🎃

Seven years of silly costumes, from a fuzzy green monster to a tiny tiger. Take a look at Oakley's Halloween looks through the years!

Oakley lying upside down in a fuzzy green monster costume
2020 · Green Monster 💚Even monsters love belly rubs!
Oakley wearing an old-man outfit with a plaid hat, wig, glasses and walking cane
2022 · Little Old Man 👴Oakley, wise beyond his years.
Oakley in a funny old-man costume with oversized purple glasses
2023 · Purple-Glasses Grandpa 👓A whole new look for an old favorite!
Oakley and Lisa dressed in matching bumblebee costumes
2024 · Bumblebee 🐝Two busy bees!
Oakley sitting in an orange tiger-striped hooded costume
2026 · Tiger 🐯Oakley's newest Halloween look!

Costume photographs are displayed in full so Oakley's hats, ears and outfits aren't cut off.

How it all began

The Story Behind the Book

It started with a dog, a kitchen chair, and a cell phone balanced on a pile of books.

In 2022, pediatric audiologist Lisa Rylant, Au.D., began teaching Oakley to keep headphones on and press a button. She photographed him demonstrating activities from hearing appointments and turned the pictures into a story for her young patients.

Before testing, she shared laminated pages with children in the soundbooth so they could see what to expect. Children who had been hesitant about headphones became more willing to try them. The story also resonated with older children and teenagers, helping some feel more confident about their hearing aids.

Encouraged by colleagues, she decided to share the story beyond the hospital. In 2026, Oakley Gets a Hearing Aid (and a Hearing Test Too!) became a published children's book.

Created by a pediatric audiologist. Inspired by real patients. Starring one very special dog.

Discover the Book ↗
An illustrated page from Oakley's children's book
Real Amazon reader feedback

What Readers Are Saying

★★★★★

“This is the sort of creativity that the audiology industry needs!”

“I can keep this book in my clinic and use it as a tool to introduce audiology concepts to kids in a fun and relatable way.”

“This makes the hearing test look fun/easy and less intimidating. Less anxious kiddo usually leads to a more comprehensive hearing evaluation.”

“If you see pediatric patients, get. this. book!”

— Steven S.
Amazon review · Audiology perspective
★★★★★

“Oakley is very sweet and it’s written in a way children’s curiosities will be addressed and calmed.”

— M. S. Hu
Amazon review
★★★★★

“I have the book in my office and have started showing it to clients to help children feel more comfortable before testing.”

— Sarah Ralph
Audiologist · Canada · Amazon review

Read more customer reviews on Amazon ↗

Watch & learn

Oakley’s Fun Moments! 🐾

Watch Oakley’s tricks, happy dances, training adventures, and fun with his best friend Bonnie!

Oakley smiling with both ears up, his happy dance thumbnail▶ InstagramOakley's Happy DanceWatch Oakley celebrate his favorite things Preview for Oakley's Obstacle Course▶ InstagramOakley Jumps Through a Hoop!See his hoop-jumping and other tricks Preview for The Cabinet Trick▶ InstagramOakley Closes the Cabinet Door!Oakley shows off a clever skill Preview for Oakley and best friend Bonnie▶ InstagramOakley and best friend BonnieA playful moment with his best friend
Real photograph of Oakley outdoors▶ Two tricksOakley’s Amazing Jumping Tricks!Jump over my leg ↗ · Jump through my arms ↗
Oakley Learns “Leave It!”A funny 30-second training moment — press play above

Instagram cards attempt to show previews from the linked posts when online; if Instagram blocks the image, a clearly labeled video card appears instead.

Oakley in the audiology community

Featured with Flex VRA at the American Academy of Audiology Conference

Flex VRA displayed Oakley Gets a Hearing Aid (and a Hearing Test Too!) at the American Academy of Audiology conference. These photos show the book in a hearing-testing soundbooth and at the Flex VRA exhibit.

Flex VRA representative holding Oakley's children's book at a professional audiology conference
Oakley's book at the Flex VRA exhibit
Oakley’s book on a table alongside visual reinforcement audiometry equipment inside a soundbooth
Oakley's book in a pediatric soundbooth

Flex VRA also offers an Oakley animation for compatible visual reinforcement audiometry systems.

Learn About Oakley's Flex VRA Animation ↗
More about the real dog

Oakley Fun Facts!

🎂 BirthdayOctober 26
🐕 His nickname“Pitty-pom”
🧬 DNA surpriseA mix of 14 breeds! Watch his DNA reveal ▶
🥕 Favorite treatCarrots, of course!
A surprising mix

Oakley’s DNA Surprise! 🧬

How many breeds make up our favorite Pitty-pom? Watch Oakley’s DNA reveal to find out!

Real-life adventures

Oakley Spreading Smiles! 💙

From Read to Dogs events and school visits to spending time with patients living with dementia, supporting hearing loss events, greeting baseball fans, and cheering up college students during exams — Oakley loves bringing people together.

Oakley relaxing while a child with an obscured face pets him
Making new friends
Oakley greeting adults at a baseball event
Sharing smiles at the ballpark
Oakley with volunteers at Walk4Hearing
Walk4Hearing
Oakley wearing a graduation cap
Oakley the graduate!
Oakley overlooking the baseball field
Ballpark adventures
Oakley meeting a blue mascot
Meeting new friends
Oakley resting during an event
Taking a well-earned break
Oakley wearing his blue therapy dog bandana
Ready to spread smiles
Welcome to MeetOakley.com

Discover the World of Oakley! 🐾

Meet the real Oakley and discover how his story helps children feel more comfortable with hearing tests and hearing aids. Take a peek at his book, watch his videos, and explore helpful resources for families!

📖 Buy the Book
Featured & recommended

Oakley in the News!

Explore the places where Oakley's story has been shared and recommended.

Link to UConn Magazine↗ ArticleUConn MagazineAlumni recognition of Dr. Rylant and her book Link to UConn Speech & Hearing↗ FacebookUConn Speech & HearingA university feature about Oakley’s story Allison Fors recommends Oakley Gets a Hearing Aid (and a Hearing Test Too!) by Lisa Rylant↗ Book listRecommended Children's BooksFeatured on Allison Fors' hearing-loss book resource
The person behind the pages

About the Author

Lisa Rylant, Au.D., is a pediatric audiologist and children's author with more than 27 years of experience helping children feel comfortable and confident throughout their hearing care journey.

She earned her audiology degree from the University of Connecticut, began her career at Franciscan Children’s in Boston, and has spent the past 24 years caring for children at Connecticut Children’s.

Her work includes children of all developmental levels and those with complex medical needs. She also established Connecticut's first pediatric program specializing in misophonia, tinnitus, and hyperacusis.

Outside the clinic, Lisa enjoys musical theater, singing, nature walks, training Oakley, and spending time with her husband and two daughters—especially summers by the ocean on Cape Cod.

Why Lisa wrote the book

Oakley’s original photo story helped children prepare for hearing appointments. The encouragement she saw in the clinic inspired her to share it with more families and professionals.

×Enlarged page from Oakley’s book
×Enlarged page from Oakley’s book
×Enlarged page from Oakley’s book