ter had a hearing loss just three weeks earlier. Angry and blaming myself for both her hearing loss and delayed diagnosis, I was in research mode to get her the help she needed. After reaching out to AG Bell for support and getting involved in their Parent Chats, I began to feel encouraged and able to get my daughter the services and support she needed."
OTHER PLACES TO START
Parents typically begin to seek answers and help immediately following their child's hearing loss diagnosis. Finding the right resources are crucial. For example, when it comes to hearing technology and speech and language development, when navigating the world of hearing loss. Hearing First (hearingfirst.org) provides a quick and clear place to start for families. Their resource, Starts Hear (hearingfirst.org/starts-hear-awareness-campaign), also helps families understand the importance of getting help and starting on their family's journey with hearing loss right away.
The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) is a great resource for families who wish to use Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) with their child who is deaf or hard of hearing. AG Bell Listen-Learn-Link Parent Support Line (agbell.org/Families/Listen-Learn-Link-Parent-Support-Line) allows parents, caregivers, and guardians of children with hearing loss to connect with AG Bell's Early Intervention Parent Consultant, who speaks both English and Spanish, and is a parent of a now-adult deaf son who uses listening and spoken language. In addition to inviting parents to participate in AG Bell online Parent Chats and one of AG Bell's local Chapters (agbell.org/Connect/Local-Chapters), she directs parents to professional resources (LSL Professionals: agbell.org/locateLSLS) and other national and local resources and services. AG Bell recognizes that every family is unique and every family has the potential to create a beautiful story, one that is their own and that works for their family.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides links to several resources: Parent Resources (cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss). The CDC's materials on Parent Guidance (cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/par- entsguide/index.html), help parents think about what questions they need to ask as they embark on their family's journey, and the Decision Guide related to Communication Options (cdc.gov/ncb- ddd/hearingloss/parentsguide/decision/index.html) is a valuable resource that can help a family sort through some of their next steps.
RESOURCES RELATED TO COMMUNICATION AND FAMILY SUPPORT
In many cases, families may find that local professionals who know their child (e.g. pediatric audiologist, certified listening and spoken language specialist, educator and/or speech-language pathologist who specialize in hearing loss, and their pediatrician, family physician, and otolaryngologist) are in a better position to provide informed opinions, and connect families to the local services that will help them reach the outcomes that they wish for their child to achieve.
A good team, with the parent and child at the center is priceless, and should be the norm for every family of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing, but often it isn't. Many families benefit from both the quality resources and connections to others who know about hearing loss provided through national organizations. •
HEAR THIS : DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING RESOURCES
The vast number of written resources collectively available through the below organizations, while designed for parents, are not meant to be navigated alone. Parents can reach out to these organizations to connect directly with a knowledgeable person through email links on their websites.
AG BELL
Provides family support through its Learn-Listen-Link Parent Support, Parent Chats, online resources, chapter network and programming agbell.org
HEARING FIRST
Provides a family community and many other resources on how to learn Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) as part of its online digital community hearingfirst.org
THE JOHN TRACY CENTER
Provides parent training modules in English and Spanish related to Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) that parents can complete at home jtc.org
HANDS & VOICES
Provides family-to-family support across communication choices through their state chapters and programs handsandvoices.org
THE NATIONAL CUED SPEECH ASSOCIATION
Provides information and education on how to learn Cued Speech cuedspeech.org
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR DEAF CHILDREN
American Society for Deaf Children provides information and education on how to learn American Sign Language (ASL). deafchildren.org
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Gayla H. Guignard, M.A., CCC-A/SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT has served as AG Bell's Chief Strategy & Programs Officer since September, 2015. By training, she is an audiologist, speech-language pathologist and Listening and Spoken Language Specialist Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist. In addition to clinical practice with children and families, she has led state programs in Indiana, including EHDI, and is focused on systems that help improve outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, including the preparation of professionals in the field. Lisa A. Goldstein is a deaf journalist and Officer of the Pennsylvania Chapter of The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She has been a member of AG Bell since 1982. She was born profoundly deaf, diagnosed at 14 months, learned to lipread and speak, and now listens through a cochlear implant and digital hearing aid. Lisa has a master's degree in journalism from UC Berkeley and works as a freelance journalist in Pittsburgh, where she lives with her husband and two children.