What Now?

Get Educated:

Once your child has been diagnosed it's time for you to get educated and educated your family and friends on your child's diagnosis. Finding a support system whether it be emotionally or financially is very important

Who Can Help?

Audiologist
(from http://www.helpkidshear.org/resources/starter/who.htm)

• Having the appropriate equipment (Visual Reinforcement, Audiometry, Tympanometry) and the skills to test the hearing of infants and toddlers.
• Obtaining complete information about your child's hearing in each ear at a range of frequencies
• Recommending appropriate amplification.
• Testing your child while wearing amplification and questioning parents about child's responses to sounds at home.
• Giving you information about early intervention programs available to your family.
• Working in partnership with you and early intervention specialists to monitor and maintain your child's amplification systems (Hearing aids, FM systems, cochlear implants).

Early Intervention Specialist or Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
(from http://www.helpkidshear.org/resources/starter/who.htm)

• Describing the services offered through their early intervention program and costs, if any, associated with services.
• Describing how your family members will be involved in early intervention services: defining your roles in early intervention and their expectations about your family's participation.
• Answering, when possible, your questions about how your child's hearing loss will affect his ability to learn, to communicate, and to participate in school and society.
• Describing the curriculum that will be used to promote your child's acquisition of listening
• Listening to your observations and concerns about your child and discussing these with you.
• Working with the audiologist to help your child learn to use amplification and make sure the child's hearing aids function properly.
• Keeping records of child's progress in acquisition of listening skills.
• Giving you support during difficult times.

Other parents of deaf or hard of hearing children [VERY IMPORTANT]
(from http://www.helpkidshear.org/resources/starter/who.htm)

• Sharing experiences they have had with professionals and early intervention programs.
• Telling you about people and information sources they have found useful.
• Listening to you.
• Sharing with you their feelings related to parenting a child with hearing loss and how their feelings have changed over time.
• Telling you about their child's achievements.
• Getting together with you so your children can play together.

Others include-- Pediatrician, ENT Physician, other hard of hearing adults