Special Parents Confidential 09 Deafness and Hearing Impairment

Deafness and Hearing Impairment. Everyone at some point in their lives experiences some form of hearing loss, either from their environment or due to advanced age. However many children are born every year with deafness or hearing impairments. Although many therapies and technologies exist to help correct hearing impairments, the same questions and issues still come up for parents of hearing impaired children as for all parents of special needs children: communication, comprehension, help in school, social acceptance, and so on. And what organizations exist that can help parents get the information that’s best suited for their children and their particular needs? Our guest on this episode of Special Parents Confidential, Julie Wiseman, has been through a lot of these issues. Her daughter, Kendall, was diagnosed at birth with deafness. Juli shares Kendall’s story and her own struggles with finding help, getting the right information, and many other issues that she and Kendall have faced. Links Mentioned In This Episode:  PASE – Parent Advisors for Special Education (Kent Intermediate School District, Kent County, MI) Hearing Loss Association of America – The Nation’s Voice For People With Hearing Loss. Hearing Loss Association of America – Grand Rapids Chapter Listen Up  – Specializing in information for the deaf and hard of hearing, and especially geared to the needs of hearing impaired children and their families. Note: this website hasn’t been updated since 2010, but still has some valuable information. Hands & Voices – Resource website for everyone. Guide By Your Side – This is the link to the Hands & Voices national site for finding Guide By Your Side in your state. Guide By Your Side Michigan – State of Michigan Chapter. Gallaudet University  John Tracy Clinic – Los Angeles, CA. Free help for parents of deaf and hearing impaired children no matter where they live. Signing Time Alexander Graham Bell Association Cochlear Implant Manufacturers (and their associations): Advanced Bionics Cochlear America Med-El