Raising kids is a touch job. You use the lessons you learned with your first child when you raise your second – by the third child, you’ve got your lesson plan down pat. Having a hearing impaired child means you throw the lesson plan out the window and start a whole new learning curve. But you’re not alone – the team at Orange County Physicians Hearing Services can help you out. The state of California mandates a hearing exam for newborns, but if there were concerns about your child’s hearing – get a hearing test now from one of our audiologists to be sure and start a treatment plan.

Fabulous Resource now free

“Silent Garden: A Parent’s Guide to Raising a Deaf Child” is a book co-authored by Fresno State professor Dr. Paul Ogden and David Smith. It is published by the Gallaudet University Press.
Ogden, who is deaf, said he wrote the book to help bridge the gaps as to what services are available. He said families have a learning curve when it comes to a deaf child and how to provide for them. His book, which is also available in a Spanish edition, helps families find resources to get on the correct educational track. El Jardin Silencioso is also published by the Gallaudet University Press. It is the first book of its kind to be printed in English as well as Spanish. Smith is also deaf, so the book offers a unique view on topics like education, relationships and the deaf community that parents can use.

The book will be given away free to all parents of newly-identified deaf infants in the state of California. Ogden worked with the California Department of Education to facilitate the distribution of the book. He also set up a foundation, The Sunflowers in the Silent Garden, to help fund the project. Julie Rems-Smario, Deaf and hard of hearing program consultant for the California Department of Education, emphasized the book’s importance because it is written from the perspective of deaf adults, so it has special insights into issues that others couldn’t have. Rems-Smario knows of what she speaks. She, too, is deaf. In addition to making the paperback book available free, parents will also be given the option of access to an audiobook edition in their preferred language. Ogden said he hopes to expand the program to other states.

Hearing loss and children

Almost 1,200 newborns do not pass the Newborn Hearing Screening in California each year. These children are either deaf or hard of hearing and it is important they get access to resources as soon as they can, said Ogden.

Sometimes parents don’t get the complete information about what might be available and where until their child is 3 or 4 years old. By then, according to Ogden, the child already is likely struggling with language delays. These language delays will also lead to social awareness limitations. Often parents have to wait or chose to wait until their child goes to school to find the necessary resources. By partnering with the California Department of Education, said Ogden, the book and information about resources gets in as many parents’ hands as possible.

Additional resources for parents

The Alexander Graham Bell Association for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. https://www.agbell.org/ helps families, health care providers and educational professionals understand childhood hearing loss and the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.

The American Society for Deaf Children. http://deafchildren.org/ provides support to families raising children who are deaf or had of hearing.

California Department of Education, https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ss/dh/ provides technical assistance and monitoring of local educational programs serving deaf and hard of hearing pupils.

Beginnings http://ncbegin.org/ provides emotional support and access to information for families with children age newborn to 21 who are deaf or hard of hearing.

California Hand and Voices http://cahandsandvoices.org/ a parent-driven non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing

Get a hearing test to be sure

The first thing you need to do for your child if you think he or she is hard of hearing is get a hearing evaluation at an Orange County Physicians’ Hearing Services location.  Very young children and even infants can get hearing devices. We can help you help your child thrive and be their best.