A team of providers

When supporting a deaf or hard of hearing child, it’s important to build a well-rounded team of providers. There are two key areas of focus: one group of professionals, such as audiologists and ENTs, focuses on hearing health and managing assistive technology. Equally important is a second team focused on language access and development. Our focus is on how to build an effective language team to ensure the child has full access to communication, cognitive growth, and social development.

Getting Started: Focusing on Language Access

A great place to start is by reaching out to an accredited school for deaf children. Many of these schools offer in-home and school-based services starting in infancy, and they can guide families in assembling a language team. If the school doesn’t provide all the needed services, they can help connect families with local providers.

Who Should Be on the Language Team?

Deaf Role Models

Deaf adults offer something unique—a firsthand understanding of thriving in both deaf and hearing spaces. They help children develop a positive deaf identity, showing them that being deaf is something to embrace, not overcome. Deaf role models can also help parents understand what life can look like for their child, offering guidance on self-advocacy and navigating a bilingual world.

Early Intervention Providers

Early intervention is critical, especially in the early years when language development is most rapid. But it’s important to find early intervention providers with expertise in working with deaf children and are fluent in sign language. These providers should focus on language acquisition and cognitive development, ensuring that the child has full, accessible language from the start—whether signed or spoken.

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)

Speech-language pathologists can be an important part of the language team, particularly if families want to support both spoken and signed language development. However, not all SLPs are trained to work with deaf children. 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.

Sign Language Learning for the Whole Family

A critical part of the language team is ensuring the whole family learns to communicate with the child. Encouraging families to learn sign language together provides full language access and strengthens family bonds. Learning ASL can be a fun and engaging family activity that supports communication and ensures the child can express themselves from an early age. Families can start with online courses, community classes, or local programs.

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, especially those affiliated with Language First, are ideal for supporting both spoken and signed language development.

By assembling a team that focuses on language—deaf role models, early intervention providers, and SLPs—you can help ensure that a deaf or hard of hearing child has the language support they need to thrive. While the hearing team (audiologists, ENTs, etc.) is essential, the language team ensures the child has access to the rich, meaningful communication needed for cognitive, social, and emotional development.