Next Steps

Communicating with your child is of the utmost importance!  Two-way communication, responding to your child and encouraging your child to respond to you, is the key to your child’s language development. There are different ways to communicate and different philosophies about communication. As you think about how your family communicates now with your child and how you would like to communicate with him or her in the future, you are thinking about the communication methodology/mode issue. The best way to decide which approach to communication will be best for your child and family is to be open about all the modes, ask questions, talk to adults who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing and other families with children who have a hearing loss, and discuss, read, and obtain as much information you can about the various methods.

The people who you come in contact with (Hands & Voices, other parents, Audiologists) etc. will all give you input and support as you go through this process.

Each child has unique needs that may benefit from technology.  Parents have choices to make to promote the healthy development of their child. Amplification devices such as hearing aids, BAHAs, cochlear implants, and DM systems (you might also hear FM, RM or HAT- Hearing Assistive Devices) that work with aids and implants are available to children who are deaf or hard of hearing.  Other technology options include, but are not limited to: captioning, videophones, and flashing lights for clocks, doorbells, phones.  You will benefit from ongoing support as you determine the technology needs of your child, secure funding to pay for the device/s and maximize the benefits they offer.  The choices that are made often change over time.

Talk with D/HH adults, Early Intervention specialists, or a Parent Guide to hear personal experiences and gain an unbiased perspective. If you would like to connect with someone, please ask your HVNM Parent Guide.