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Where can I send parents whose child has just been diagnosed with hearing loss?


Posted by Jodi Cutler Del Dottore Patient ExpertHealth Maven

Aside from various organizations including the AgBell Foundation, the most valuable form of assistance for a parent beginning the journey in deafness is to hear about other parents' experiences. There are various Yahoo support groups for the parents of deaf children. Here are some of them: (Note: membership is free)

The Pediatric Cochlear Implant Circle: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cicircle/?yguid=311848141

Listen-Up: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Listen-Up/?yguid=311848141

Learn2Hear: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/learn2hear/?yguid=311848141

 
Answers (5)
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I agree with Jodi. Also, if you're looking into cochlear implants, these are good sites:

http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/coch.asp

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/soundandfury/cochlear/index.html

http://www.cochlearimplantonline.com/index2.php

http://www.cochlear.com

http://soundcheckmama.blogspot.com

http://rallycapsdotnet.blogspot.com/

I would say the same thing, Jodi - Other parents are probably the best source of encouragement and support that parents need.  And they will probably be the best source of referrals and "what to do about..." kind of answers.
You might consider talking to a Cochlear Awareness Volunteer.  Go the the cochlear.com website for information on how to contact one. 

To read about other cochlear implant recipients' experiences, check out http://www.thedeafblog.co.uk

If the child hasn't yet reached age three, a great resource is their local early intervention. Income is irrelavent, and the support families can gain there is tremendous.  You can usually help a family find their local early intervention by calling their school district. Early Intervention is a federally funded program and is available in all fifty states. 
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