Building a Team to Support Your Child

Raising a deaf or hard of hearing child means navigating a range of developmental and educational choices. There are lots of professionals who can help along the way, but it is important to build a team that is well equipped to 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

Deaf adult role models are one of the most important members of your team. They know what it means to be deaf and how to navigate deaf and hearing spaces. By seeing how deaf people lead fulfilling lives, your child can learn that being deaf is something to celebrate and be proud of, not something to be embarrassed about or try to overcome. Getting to know deaf adults is also really important for the grownups in your family. They can help you imagine what the future might look like for your child, and they can be a thought partner to help you navigate raising a deaf or hard of hearing child. You might encounter deaf adults who are working in some of the professions we describe below, or you might meet them at a social meet-up or other deaf events.

Teacher of the Deaf

Teachers of the Deaf do all the things that any teacher does, but tailored for deaf and hard of hearing children. That means they often have specialized expertise in how to make the classroom more accessible for deaf kids, and are trained to help children learn language. Often teaching deaf students requires a totally different method for instruction (e.g., see this paper we wrote about how reading instruction can be really different for deaf kids). Teachers of the Deaf aren't just for kids in kindergarten or older grades, they often start working with children in infant and early childhood programs.

Early Intervention Provider

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 Pathologist (SLP)

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. They generally do not have training in supporting language learning.

Audiologist

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. They generally do not have training in supporting language learning.

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.