Resources for Parents of Children with Hearing Loss

All About Your Child's Hearing

The videos below will show you the parts of the ear and how they work.

ear Video o n how the ear works #1
Video on how the ear works #2
Video on how the ear works #3 and learn the names of the parts of the ear

This video will show you what happens when the inside of the ear is damaged.
Video on the ear and hearing loss

This page will show you how to read the graph (audiogram) that charts what levels and frequencies a person is hearing and interpreting sound.
How to read an audiogram

This page describes the different ways to communicate to a child with a hearing loss by choosing different options (sign language, auditory, lip reading, etc.
Communication Options by the US Department of Education

This is a short video about the middle ear and how an ear becomes infected.
Otitis Media (ear infections in children)

This is a video that describes what "tubes" in the ear are and also describes the procedure.
Myringotomy-Tube placed in the ear to allow drainage of fluid in the middle ear

Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctors (ENT's) and Audiologists

Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctors
(There may be more ENT's in the area that are not listed here.)

Ear, Nose, and Throat Center:
Dr. Kosta, Dr. Sprik, Dr. Winkle, and Dr. Afman (Click here for address and website)

Grand Rapids Ear, Nose and Throat:
Dr. Cox, Dr. Meleca, Dr. Pfenneg, Dr. Spooner, Dr. Taylor, Dr. Trask (Click here for address and website)

ENT Consultants:
Dr. Daniels, Dr. Elzinga, and Dr. DeGroot (Click here for address and website)

East Paris Ent Associates:
Mr. Markiewicz (Click here for address and website)

Michigan Medical:
616-456-7758 (Office), 616-456-9290 (Fax)
Dr. Hart: 80 68th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49548
Dr. Postma: 221 Michigan Street NE, Suite 502, Grand Rapids, MI 49548

Audiologists
(Only three of the most common Audiologists are listed here. Some of the ENT's have their own Audiologists. Please check the yellow pages for other listings.)

Hear USA (2 locations): www.hearusa.com
1000 E. Paris Ave., Grand Rapids, MI 49546-3691, 616-942-1660
751 Kenmoor Ave SE #B, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-2391, 616-954-1895

Advanced Audiology: http://www.advancedaudiologydewitt.com
Linda Wright is the audiologist that owns and runs Advanced Audiology in Dewitt, Michigan.

Central Michigan University (CMU) Carls Center-Audiology and Speech and Language Pathology
Health Professional Building Dr., Mount Pleasant, MI 48804, 616-774-3904

Family Support

This section was developed in hopes of helping to support families emotionally. The emotional feelings that go along with having a child with a hearing loss are very real. You are not alone. There are agencies listed below that want to help guide you. Please feel comfortable sharing your feelings with me as well. I will do my best to listen! I've shared the letter "Welcome to Holland" (Click Here), which was written by a parent who describes how she feels about having a child with special needs.

I'd also like to share a short article written by a professor about helping parents through the grief process of having a child with special needs. Although this article is written for educators, I think it has a lot of value for parents. It discusses how parents grieve a loss when they learn that their child has a disability. The parent may go through the stages of grief. All parents' grief "process" is different. Please read "Children with Special Needs: Helping Parents through Grief" (Click Here).

"Guide By Your Side"
This resource gives families, who recently learned of their child's hearing loss, an opportunity to meet with another parent of a deaf or hard of hearing child.
Click here to download a brochure from Guide by Your Side.

"Michigan Hands and Voices"
Michigan Hands and Voices is an organization dedicated to non-biased support to families who have children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Parents have the opportunity to meet other families who have a child who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing. This is an excellent support system.

Parent Advisory Committee
Each district in Montcalm County has a parent representative who is delegated to help parents and schools work together.

family holding hands and walking Michigan Alliance for Families
Michigan Alliance for Families works to provide services and support to Michigan families of children with disabilities.

Girl with hand up to her ear. The Listening Room
Click here to talk in a forum with other families who have a child with hearing loss.

The University of Michigan has a social worker that works through a grant. She works with families who have children with hearing loss to help with the emotional aspects of having a child with a disability. Please contact me if you'd be interested in this service and I will help you put this in place.

Sign Language Resources

Listed below are various web sites that provide support with learning sign language. "Signing Time" is a TV show that was on PBS. This is an excellent resource to teach yourself and your child new sign language. Ask Kelly Taylor to borrow a Signing Time DVD from our Parent Lending Library.

Learn how to finger spell the alphabet.

Learn numbers in sign language.

Interpreter in front of crowd. Visit ASL Pro
This site has a dictionary with over 7,500 signs. Click on "ASL for babies" to learn beginning sign language for babies and toddlers.

Two people signing. Visit Michigan State University's site to look up thousands of ASL signs.

Friend signing American Sign Language University.

Interpreter wth students Signing Savvy.

Interpreter YouTube videos of the TV show "Signing Time."

Cochlear Implants

A cochlear implant is an electronic device that is surgically implanted into the ear of a person who is severely hard of hearing.

The links below and to the left provide additional information about Cochlear implants, the companies that produce them, and hospitals in Michigan where the surgery is performed.

All about Cochlear Implants

Hospitals in Michigan that perform Cochlear Implants

Cochlear Implant Companies

Classes and Education for Parents

Man holding up a lightbulb. Smart Ears Instruction
Online classes for parents and educators. Instruction on teaching children with hearing loss how to listen and talk. If you would like to enroll in the parent training, please ask Kelly about the courses first.

classroom John Tracy Clinic - Online Correspondence Course
Free online classes for parents with children who have hearing loss that are pursuing a listening and spoken language approach. The courses are offered world-wide in several different languages.

Baby on all fours looking at a computer Hope Online Short Courses
Audiology Online offers 100's of online courses through 26 different hearing aid and Cochlear Implant companies. The topics vary greatly from literacy, listening, language, parterships with agencies, etc. These courses are mostly geared for professionals, however there are some that would be very beneficial for parents. Talk with Kelly and she will help you find the course that is right for you. Most of the courses are free and about 60 minutes long.

Additional Educational Activities

Nurse hold a new born Born Learning
Fun educational activities that promote listening, language, and learning.

Girl with hand up to her ear. The Listening Room
The Listening Room has activities and information for parents. There is a forum in which you can talk to other parents and professionals.

Children laying in the grass Bridges 4 Kids
Dedicated to helping families by providing a comprehensive system of information and referral for parents and professionals seeking help for children from birth through transition to adult life in the State of Michigan.

house Explore the Literacy House
This is a fun website that gives parents suggestions of activities to enhance language and learning in different rooms of their home.

Little girl playing with a baby Fun listening and learning activities for babies

Baby with sunglasses on. Developmental Activities for zero to four year olds

Baby and toddler boy looking at each other. Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
This web site has developmental milestone information and activities to enhance language and learning. This is a good website.

More Resources

Baby's ear My Baby's Hearing
Learn all about your baby's hearing and the many options available to you. (This is my favorite site!!!)

Dad talking to baby Communicate with your Child

Many web sites are available as resources for parents.

Baby's face The University of Michigan's Sound Support

This is a website developed by the University of Michigan to help support parents with resources to better learn about their child's hearing loss. This is a wonderful website with a lot of links to other websites.

Two toddlers Raising Def Kids