Building a Team to Support Your Child

Raising a deaf or hard of hearing child means navigating a range of developmental and educational choices. It’s not about finding one perfect service—it’s about building a team of knowledgeable, supportive professionals who can help ensure your child has full access to language, learning, and advocacy skills. Having the right people in your corner is key to making informed decisions that will help your child thrive.

How to get started?

A great place to start is by reaching out to an accredited school for deaf children. Many schools for the deaf offer in home and school-based services starting as early as infancy and have the expertise to guide you through the process of building a team. If the school itself doesn’t offer all the services your child needs, or is too far away, they can still often help you connect with local providers who do.

Who might be on your team?

Deaf Role Models

One key member of your team is a deaf role model. Deaf adults can offer your child something unique—the lived experience of thriving in both deaf and hearing spaces. By seeing how deaf people lead fulfilling lives, your child can learn that being deaf is something to celebrate, not something to overcome. Deaf role models can teach both you and your child how to navigate the world, adapt to different environments, and advocate for themselves.

Deaf mentors also provide families with valuable insights into what the future might look like. Many parents gain a new perspective on communication, social connection, and the opportunities available to their child by interacting with deaf adults.

Teacher of the Deaf

Teachers provides instruction in a variety of subjects like math, reading, science, and social studies tailored for deaf and hard of hearing children and foster social and emotional development. Their role includes creating lesson plans that align with educational standards, delivering lessons in an engaging and accessible way, and assessing student progress through assignments, tests, and observations. Some teachers are specifically trained in supporting language learning, and may start working with children in infancy.

Early Intervention Providers

In the United States, deaf and hard of hearing children are entitled to early intervention services. However, not all early intervention providers have specialized experience working with deaf children. It’s important to find a provider who understands the unique needs of deaf children, especially in terms of language acquisition and cognitive development. Schools for the deaf may have an in house team of providers, or may be able to help you identify folks in your area.

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)

Speech-language pathologists can play a key role, especially if you plan to incorporate spoken language. However, it’s important to note that not all SLPs are trained to work with deaf children. We recommend seeking out SLPs affiliated with Language First, a network of professionals who understand how language development works and who emphasize providing children with full access to a language-rich environment. These specialists can support both signed and spoken language development, giving your child the best chance to succeed.

Pediatrician

Pediatricians are essential members of your team when raising a deaf or hard of hearing child. Your child's primary care provider or pediatrician is often the first point of contact for medical care and plays a central role in supporting a deaf or hard of hearing child's overall health and development. They might evaluate developmental milestones, diagnose and manage co-occurring conditions, and coordinate services and referrals to other specialists.

Otolaryngologist

An otolaryngologist (or ear nose and throat doctor) specializes in conditions related to the ears. They might assess the child’s hearing abilities, recommend or perform procedures like ear tube placement to address chronic infections, or oversee the process of cochlear implant candidacy and surgery.

Audiologists

Audiologists specialize in understanding how your child’s hearing or use of hearing devices impacts their access to spoken language learning and education. They provide support using hearing technologies, such as cochlear implants, hearing aids, and FM systems, and evaluate your child’s hearing.

Sign Language Learning for the Whole Family

Learning sign language as a family is essential for building a strong foundation of communication. There are many ways to get started, including online courses, community classes, and college-based programs. Even if time or access to in-person resources is limited, there are plenty of digital resources available to help you learn ASL at your own pace.

Learning sign language together can also be a fun and engaging family activity, strengthening bonds and making communication easier and more enjoyable for everyone.

Key Takeaways

• Deaf role models provide valuable insights into what life can look like for your child and can help them develop self-advocacy skills.

• Schools for the deaf offer language-rich environments and can help you connect with local experts and resources.

• ASL learning for the whole family is important for building strong communication and connection.

• Early intervention providers with expertise in deaf children are essential for supporting your child’s language and cognitive development.

• Speech-language pathologists with specialized training in working with deaf children and have expertise in both spoken and sign language are ideal for supporting language development.

• Healthcare providers coordinate care and ensure your child’s overall well-being.

Ultimately, building a team that understands your child’s unique needs is crucial to their growth and development. You don’t have to figure this out on your own—by working with the right professionals, you can ensure your child has access to the language and support they need to thrive.