Almeida Law Group is investigating a data breach at The Texas Hearing Institute. The organization has begun notifying nearly 30,000 Texas residents about a cyberattack discovered in March 2026, and the ransomware group Interlock has claimed responsibility for stealing 540 gigabytes of data. If you were affected, contact Almeida Law Group.
About The Texas Hearing Institute
The Texas Hearing Institute is a pediatric hearing center based in Houston, Texas.
What Happened?
On March 20, 2026, The Texas Hearing Institute identified unauthorized access to its network and immediately took steps to contain the incident and secure its systems. Working with third-party digital forensics experts, the organization determined on April 22, 2026 that an unauthorized party had accessed personal information stored on its systems. A subsequent data review confirmed that names, Social Security numbers, financial information, and medical records were compromised.
The Texas Hearing Institute’s notification letters to affected individuals do not describe the nature of the attack in detail, but the incident appears consistent with a ransomware attack. The Interlock ransomware group added The Texas Hearing Institute to its dark web data leak site in early April 2026, claiming to have stolen approximately 540 gigabytes of data.
The Texas Attorney General was notified that at least 29,498 Texas residents were affected. It is not yet known how many individuals were affected nationwide.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Company or Organization: The Texas Hearing Institute
- Industry: Healthcare Services (Pediatric Hearing Center)
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Threat Actor: Interlock
- Incident type: Ransomware attack resulting in unauthorized network access and data theft
- Date of unauthorized access: March 20, 2026
- Date breach confirmed: April 22, 2026
- Data reportedly stolen: Approximately 540 GB (per threat actor’s claim)
- Data types involved: Names, Social Security numbers, financial information, medical records
- Individuals notified (Texas): At least 29,498
- Remedy offered: 24 months of complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection
- Source: HIPAA Journal – Almost 30,000 Texas Residents Affected by Data Breach at The Texas Hearing Institute
What Should You Do?
If you received a notification letter from The Texas Hearing Institute, enroll in the complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services being offered as soon as possible. Given that Social Security numbers and financial information were involved, monitor your bank and credit card statements closely, and consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Request your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and review them for unfamiliar accounts. Watch for phishing attempts referencing this incident, and report suspected identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov.
Your Legal Rights
If your personal or health information may have been involved in this incident, you may have legal rights depending on the facts as they develop and the law in your state. Almeida Law Group represents consumers in data breach and privacy litigation and can help you evaluate whether you may have a claim. Contact us at (708) 529-5418 or through our contact page for a free case evaluation.
