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Most people communicate with each other by listening, speaking and writing. This is also true of the majority of people who have a hearing loss.
Hearing is our primary sense for receiving the world of sound – and one of the primary entrances to the “super highway” of the brain. When a person experiences a hearing loss, it is as if a “road block” has been placed along the path between the ear and the brain. And while hearing loss affects each person differently, it is generally true that the greater the severity of a person’s hearing loss, the more difficult it is to learn and communicate through hearing.
Infants and toddlers who are born with minimal hearing or who lose their hearing prior to learning language experience greater barriers to fully developing their listening and language skills. The greatest window of opportunity occurs in the first three years of a child’s life so there is no time to waste. Children identified with hearing loss can learn to communicate using a number of different methods, of which sign language is just one option. Many people do not know that children who are deaf or hard of hearing, with the help of hearing aids or cochlear implants and early intervention, can learn to listen and talk.
Fortunately, there are several communication options and success stories tied to each one. Parents typically choose from the following communication options:
The auditory/oral, Auditory-Verbal and cued speech methods all make up a larger spoken language approach to communicating. For information about educational programming for children pursuing forms of manual communication, (i.e., Bilingual-Bicultural or Total Communication), contact the National Association of the Deaf or the American Society for Deaf Children. Now that you have a basic understanding of the communication options, gather as much information as possible. Start by asking yourself a few questions to help you evaluate the communication methods that are best for your child and your family. Related Resources |