There are a variety of communication and learning options for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Some families choose exclusively listening and spoken language, while others choose exclusively sign language, and some choose a combination of spoken and sign language. Parents should choose the communication and educational options that will work best for their unique child and family.

My first reaction was concern for her as she went through life. Would she be made fun of? Would she be able to do everything everyone else does? Would it affect her learning? Could she swim? Go out in the rain? You wouldn’t believe the myriad of thoughts that raced through my brain. My brain quickly flashed to the after school specials about disabilities I saw growing up in the 80s. I saw her in a self-contained classroom, her future limited. I was crushed. My brain spent time in a dark place as I went about reading all I could about hearing loss. Outcomes and statistics for kids with hearing loss in education were worse than for those who were deaf. How could this be? What was happening with this group of children? I knew that I would do anything to give her the best chance she could possibly have.