Organizations That Help Children With Hearing Impairments

Hearing impairment in children is important to detect as soon as possible, because speech patterns are learned at such an early age. It is difficult to diagnose hearing problems when the child is too young to communicate, so screening tests are essential. Parents need help with diagnosis and learning about their child's specific problem, with emotional support for the family, and with treatment and education for the child. There are a number of organizations that can form a network of support for hearing impaired children and their families.

Federal Agencies

• The National Institute of Health National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders is a good starting point to get information and become aware of resources. It offers free phone consultation with a health information specialist, a directory of organizations, a hearing disorders resource list, information on American Sign Language (ASL), hearing aids, cochlear implants, student and teacher activities and much more. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a website on Hearing Loss in Children that also has much information about resources, treatments and organizations.

State Organizations

• Each state has a EHDI, or Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program, made available through the Americans with Disabilities Act (IDEA). Children may be eligible for free services, treatment and support through this program. IDEA resource people work with state departments of education under the No Child Left Behind legislation to have programs to help support children who have hearing loss communicate and keep up with state grade benchmarks.

General Support Organizations

• The American Society of Deaf Children has local chapters and will provide support to those wishing to start a new chapter. The John Tracy Clinic in Los Angeles provides worldwide services for hearing-impaired children, aging from birth through five years, without charge. It offers correspondence courses and a summer camp.

Sign Language Organizations

• The National Association of the Deaf was founded partly to preserve and teach the American Sign Language as a core part of hearing impaired culture, and it helps with acquisition, learning, teaching and interpretation of ASL. Signing Exact English is the focus of programs at S.E.E. Center of the Advancement of Deaf Children.

Organizations That Help With Hearing Enhancement

• The Hearing Loss Association of America has a directory to 17 organizations that can assist with acquisition of hearing aids and other helpful devices. The American School for the Deaf provides consultation, information, rehabilitation and support to children considering cochlear implants.

Advocacy Organizations

• Hands and Voices grew out of a local Colorado parent support group. It has become a national movement that helps parents become advocates for their children and that helps hearing-impaired children become self-advocates. The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has a Children's Legal Advocacy Program which helps families to find appropriate community services.