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Step 1
Consider your child and her needs. Get all the information you can on the type of hearing loss she has and the different options available to you, such as early intervention, therapy, hearing aids or cochlear implants, and American Sign Language acquisition.
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Step 2
Consider the whole child as you make decisions. Look at your son’s personality, interests, strengths and weaknesses as you choose services and interventions for him. As he gets older, allow him to be involved in as many decisions as possible.
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Step 3
Get your deaf child into a good school. Education is the key to any child’s success, but this is doubly true for a deaf child. Find a program that does well in teaching deaf children reading and writing. The ability to read and write is the most important tool when a deaf person is living in a hearing world.
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Step 4
Work on developing your child’s sign language abilities. Many parents want their child to learn speech, and there is nothing wrong with that goal, but it is important not to overlook the importance of sign as a first language. Knowing sign will help your child develop their English skills and give them a foundation for speech (see Resources below).
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Step 5
Help your child develop social skills and an understanding of social situations. Because they don’t hear the conversations others are having around them, deaf children can often be a little oblivious and may miss many social conventions. Work with your child on how to make friends, how to behave in different situations and how to interact with people of all ages.
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Step 6
Foster a sense of belonging and togetherness by working hard to include your deaf child in the family. Many deaf adults report that their biggest struggle growing up was feeling isolated from other family members. Make an effort to communicate, spend time together and develop a close relationship. Knowing her family cares will help your daughter both now and in the future.
