Hearing Loss and Deafness
- Introduction
- What is hearing impairment and what causes it?
- What are the symptoms of hearing impairment?
- How is it diagnosed?
- What is the prognosis?
- What is the risk for other family members or future babies?
- What treatments/therapies/medications are recommended or available?
- How will my child and our family be impacted?
- What does a "false positive" result on a newborn hearing screen mean?
Introduction
What is hearing impairment and what causes it?
What are the symptoms of hearing impairment?
How is it diagnosed?
What is the prognosis?
What is the risk for other family members or future babies?
What treatments/therapies/medications are recommended or available?
How will my child and our family be impacted?
What does a "false positive" result on a newborn hearing screen mean?
Resources
Information & Support
For Parents and Patients
Support
Family Support for Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (NCHAM)
Extensive compilation of resources and sources of support for families that have a child who is deaf or hard of hearing; National
Center for Hearing Assessment and Management.
Easter Seals
Nonprofit organization offering services for individuals with disabilities and their families. Primary services include medical
rehabilitation, early intervention, physical and occupational therapy, speech and hearing therapy, child care, recreation,
and transition.
General
Parents' Guide to Hearing Loss (CDC)
Comprehensive section on hearing information for families, professionals, and programs. Resources and a glossary of related
terms; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Learning About Hearing Loss - A Roadmap for Families (NCHAM) ( 347 KB)
Graphic representation of the path to learning about hearing loss, from a positive newborn hearing screen to 6 months of age;
National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management.
Learning about Hearing Loss - A Roadmap for Families (NCHAM) (Spanish) ( 287 KB)
Spanish language graphic representation of the path to learning about hearing loss, from a positive newborn hearing screen
to 6 months of age; National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management.
Newborn Hearing Screening (My Baby's Hearing)
Information about specific aspects of newborn hearing screening; Boys Town National Research Hospital.
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (EHDI)
EHDI programs are organized at the state level and collaborate with the Centers for Disease Control to maximize early identification
of infants with hearing loss. The national EHDI website contains provider and family oriented educational material.
Glossary of Hearing Terms (My Baby's Hearing)
Definitions of more than 110 terms related to hearing and hearing loss; Boystown National Research Hospital.
Resources for Parents of Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (EHDI-PALS)
Information and questions to ask of your hearing and health providers; Early Hearing Detection and Intervention-Pediatric
Audiology Links to Services.
Hearing Tests (My Baby's Hearing)
Overview of hearing testing in children; Boys Town National Research Hospital.
Nonsyndromic Deafness (Genetics Home Reference)
Wealth of information, and links to more information, about hearing impairments that are not associated with genetic syndromes;
sponsored by the National Library of Medicine.
Hearing Loss, Genetics, and Your Child Brochure (ACMG) ( 1.5 MB)
Two-page brochure for families about children with hearing loss and determining a genetic cause; American College of Medical
Genetics.
Hearing Loss, Genetics, and Your Child Brochure (ACMG) (Spanish) ( 1.4 MB)
Two-page brochure, in Spanish, with information for families about hearing loss in children and determining genetic causes;
American College of Medical Genetics.
Hearing Problems in Children (MedlinePlus)
Overview and extensive links to vetted sites with more information; National Library of Medicine.
Trauma Treatment Needs of Deaf Children and the Hearing Children of Deaf Parents ( 430 KB)
Enhances opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing children who
experience traumatic stress to receive treatment tailored to their individual, cultural, and communicative needs; National
Child Traumatic Stress Network.
Alexander Graham Bell Association
One of the oldest and most comprehensive organizations focused on pediatric hearing loss. Educates the public about technological
advances for the deaf and hearing impaired and advocates legislation.
Hearing Health Foundation
National organization whose goal is the cure and prevention of all forms of hearing loss.
Gallaudet University
The world's only university geared specifically to the needs of the deaf. Includes links to other deaf schools in the United
States.
National Association of the Deaf
Advocates the civil rights of the deaf and hard-of-hearing in areas including education, employment, health care, social services,
and telecommunications.
National Theatre of the Deaf
Information about upcoming performances, workshops, and classroom visits.
World Federation of the Deaf
International organization with goal of eradicating discrimination against the deaf community.
American Academy of Audiology
Resources for professionals who test, treat, and provide care to the deaf or hard of hearing.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Information for professionals working in audiology, speech-language pathology, and the speech and hearing sciences. Advocate
for people with communication disabilities.
American Sign Language Teachers Association
Provides ASL professionals with information on deaf culture, instructional methods, materials, and evaluation techniques.
Council on Education of the Deaf (CED)
Dedicated to the exchange of information about deaf education, from recommended teaching strategies to curriculum materials.
Gallaudet Research Institute
Research conducted by Gallaudet Research Institute, one of the world's premier deafness-related research centers, into deaf
health care services, demographics, literacy, and more.
American Society for Deaf Children
Independent nonprofit organization whose purpose is to provide support and information to families raising children who are
deaf or hard-of-hearing.
American Sign Language Dictionary (handspeak.com)
Online ASL dictionary, reportedly the largest on the Web, offers 3,090 animated signs, from "accounting" to "zen."
SignWriting
Award-winning site offers extensive information on how to read and write in signed languages.
Patient Education
'Just in Time' Hearing Resources for Families (NCHAM) (Spanish) ( 639 KB)
Two-page compilation of valuable resources for families with concerns about hearing loss in their child; National Center for
Hearing Assessment and Management.
'Just in Time' Hearing Resources for Families (NCHAM) ( 574 KB)
A two-page compilation of valuable resources for families with concerns about hearing loss in their child; National Center
for Hearing Assessment and Management.
Services
Early Intervention for Children with Disabilities/Delays
See all Early Intervention for Children with Disabilities/Delays services providers (21) in our database.
Pediatric Genetic Counseling
See all Pediatric Genetic Counseling services providers (5) in our database.
Prenatal Genetic Counseling/Diagnosis
We currently have no Prenatal Genetic Counseling/Diagnosis service providers listed; search our Services database for related services.
Schools for the Deaf & Blind
See all Schools for the Deaf & Blind services providers (1) in our database.
For other services related to this condition, browse our Services categories or search our database.