Communication Considerations for Parents of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children

Each child is unique

Each child is unique. It is important to understand the full nature and extent of a child's hearing loss or deafness. It is also important to understand how each family member and caregiver will communicate with the child. Get to know the services that are provided in your community for children in preschool and elementary school.

Should I optimize any residual hearing?

Optimizing residual hearing may be advantageous. Children may benefit from hearing aids or cochlear implants. This is a decision that you should discuss with your child's healthcare providers and other professionals who work with deaf children and language development.

Explore your options; work with professionals

Exploring the options and, if possible, working with professionals in teams can be beneficial. Your child may visit a pediatrician, an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor), an audiologist (hearing specialist), and a speech-language pathologist (specialist in speech and language disorders). Some otolaryngologists and audiologists are specially trained to work with infants and children. They are referred to as pediatric otolaryngologists and pediatric audiologists. Ask each professional to inform other professionals who work with your child about your child's visits. Coordinated care can be a big help to you and your child. Many parents find it useful to include educational and social service professionals on the team.

Interact with your child often

Parents should interact often with a deaf or hard-of-hearing infant. All of the caregivers in your child's life should interact with him or her as much as possible. You can do this by holding, facing, smiling at, and responding to your infant from the very beginning. Children need love, encouragement, and care from their families and caregivers.

Work with your child's teachers

Teachers who are experienced in working with deaf and hard-of-hearing children can help parents understand how to improve long-term outcomes for a child. Talk to your child's teachers. Get to know the educational system your child will be entering and the services it provides for children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.

Organizations and federal agencies can provide helpful information to families of deaf or hard-of-hearing children. Consult the resources below, and see what information they can provide. Several offer differing perspectives on the best way to develop the skills and talents of your deaf or hard-of-hearing child. Many of these Web sites are updated frequently, so you may want to bookmark them on your Web browser.