Support for parents of deaf children: GPODHH position paper

What kind of support is best for parents of deaf children? How does interacting with other parents benefit them? Position paper.

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Position Statement and Recommendations for Family Support in the Development of Newborn Hearing Screening Systems (NHS)/Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Systems (EHDI) Worldwide

In many high-income countries, it is now common to test a baby’s hearing soon after birth. As a result, parents can learn that their child is deaf within days after they are born. But what happens next? What kind of support is best for parents and families of deaf children to receive? Meanwhile, how many parents receive support from other parents like themselves? How does interacting with other parents benefit them? This position paper uses research to answer these and other questions. The paper also has recommendations for how best to support parents of deaf children.

The Global Coalition of Parents of Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GPODHH) published this paper in 2010. This web page is accessible for people using screen reading software, but with limits. For example, not all images have descriptions for people who cannot see them.

Also learn how service agencies, Deaf adults, and communities can help families. Or, also explore other resources for parents on raising deaf children.

Photo credit: Bill Selak on Visual Hunt / CC BY-ND