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"What works for your child is what makes the choice right."™

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions


My child was referred for additional hearing tests or I suspect that my child is not hearing/hearing well?

Follow up and have your child’s hearing tested by an audiologist! Most babies are born with hearing, so many pediatricians are not used to seeing this. Often people will speculate that it’s fluid on the ear causing the hearing test result. A pediatric audiologist can get you the right information. If the tests are inconclusive, make sure that you have a follow-up plan in place. These early years are critical for your child’s learning, so you need to know as soon as possible if she is learning through hearing.

EHDIPALS.ORG(Find an audiologist)

Alabama Early Hearing Detection & Intervention/Alabama Department of Public Health (EHDI)

www.infanthearing.org/states

My child is deaf or hard of hearing, now what?

If you are feeling emotions around your child’s diagnosis, acknowledge them. Be kind to yourself and find someone to share your emotions. Fellow parents in this chapter can help. Start building a community of parents. If you feel that you need professional assistance, seek it. Your child needs you to take care of yourself so that you can care for him. And, while you are caring for yourself, take action for your child! Children who are deaf or hard of hearing often need extra help to learn in the early years. Under the The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), children who are deaf or hard of hearing receive “early intervention” services from ages 0-3. In Alabama, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) provides these services.

ADRS has developed a resource manual for families of deaf and hard of hearing children “Pathways for Families” which we include as a pdf.
Download the ADRS "Pathways" PDF

Children who are diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing after age 3 receive services from their school district. Please reach out to your local school district even if your child has not yet enrolled there. For more information go to: Alabama State Department of Education

The Parent to Parent Committee of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EDHI) has developed a parent guide with D/HH early intervention recommendations.

“A PARENTS GUIDE TO DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING EARLY INTERVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS”

Will we seek technology to enhance our child’s hearing?

Professionals can evaluate whether your child is a candidate to access hearing through hearing aids or cochlear implants. If your child is a candidate for the technology, you must decide whether you want your child to hear and whether you are willing to put in the work to make sure that the technology continually provides your child with access to hearing. It’s not automatic, you must help him learn to listen with his technology, make sure that the technology stays in working order, make sure that the technology stays in working order, and if speech is a goal teach spoken language.

Some choose not to hear to immerse their child in Deaf culture using a visual language such as American Sign Language (ASL). Some choose a combination.

Alabama Association of the Deaf (AAD)
Auburn Speech & Hearing Clinic
Children's Rehabilitation Service (CRS) (Hearing Aids and Audiology)
All for Children
East Alabama Ear Nose & Throat
Cochlear Implant Providers (Pediatric)
The HEAR Center of Children’s Hospital– Birmingham (hearing aids, cochlear implants, audiology)
Huntsville Cochlear Implant Center
University of South Alabama Speech & Hearing Center
How will we communicate with our child?

Ok, here’s where the controversy is. People have some very strong opinions on this topic based on what has worked well or not well for them or their child. Everyone wants the very best for all children who are deaf or hard of hearing. But, here’s the thing, you are your child’s parent and you have to decide what’s best for her. So, take it all in – all of the life experiences that people will share with you and all of the professional opinions that you seek. And, after you have visited and listened and read and thought and talked about it, take a good look at your family and your child and decide what you think is the best path to take. Then start moving down that path! It’s going to be a lot of work, and you may decide that you need to take a different path once your start down the road. But, your child needs to make the most of these early years so start moving! Whichever path you choose, there are people willing to help you. I hope that Alabama Hands & Voices can help you find them.

Hands & Voices Communication Considerations A-Z
How do I start building my child's team?

Alabama Hands & Voices would love be a part of your team. Please reach out to us a alabamahinfo@gmail.com and/or request a parent guide from our Guide By Your Side Program.