Key points
This section includes website addresses, contact information, and brief descriptions for organizations, agencies, and corporations that provide information related to children with hearing loss and their families.
Hearing screening
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Hearing-Testing/
Provides information on newborn hearing screening.
Address: 2200 Research Blvd., Rockville, MD 20850
Email: actioncenter@asha.org
Phone: (800) 638-8255—(Voice, TTY) for Non-Members
(800)-498-2071—(Voice, TTY) for Members
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); NCBDDD; Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (EHDI)
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/index.html (federal website)
Provides information about children and hearing loss and answers some commonly asked questions. Information about state EHDI programs is also available.
Address: 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)
Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration
https://mchb.hrsa.gov/early-hearing-detection-intervention-ehdi (federal website)
Provides information about children with hearing loss and Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs.
Address: Parklawn Building Room 18-05, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: (301) 443-2170—(Voice)
1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)—(Voice) The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
National Center for Hearing Assessment & Management
www.infanthearing.org/screening/index.html
Provides information on newborn hearing screening programs, legislation, equipment, and other related issues.
Utah State University Address: 2615 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah 84322
Email: mail@infanthearing.org
Phone: (435) 797-3584—(Voice)
Hearing loss
Better Hearing Institute
Provides comprehensive information on hearing loss, tinnitus, and hearing aids, as well as a directory of hearing care providers (audiologists, hearing instrument specialists, and otolaryngologists).
Address: 1301 K Street NW, Suite 300W, Washington D.C. 20005
Email: mail@betterhearing.org
Phone: (202) 975-0905—(Voice)
Central Institute for the Deaf
A unique network of resources on the progressive treatment of adult and childhood deafness.
Address: 825 S. Taylor Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110
Email: cid@cid.edu
Phone: (314) 977-0132—(Voice)
(877) 444-4574
Hereditary Hearing Loss Homepage
http://hereditaryhearingloss.org
Provides current information on the genetic causes of hearing loss.
House Ear Institute
National nonprofit research and educational institute that studies the auditory system and provides information on hearing and balance disorders. Also offers professional and general public educational programs.
Address: 1127 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1620, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Email: hello@hifla.org
Phone: (213) 770-2187
Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
www.clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/ndec/
Provides information on various topics related to deafness, including topics of interest to parents of children with hearing loss and multicultural issues.
Gallaudet University Address: 800 Florida Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002
Email: clerc.center@gallaudet.edu
My Baby's Hearing
This site was developed by Boys Town National Research Hospital; it provides information about infant hearing loss, how the ear works, family issues, and some available intervention options.
Boys Town National Research Hospital Address: 555 N 30th St., Omaha, NE 68131
Phone: (531) 355-1234
National Institutes of Health; National Institute on Deafness & Other Communication Disorders
www.nidcd.nih.gov/ (federal website)
Federal government's focal point for biomedical and behavioral research in human communication. Website provides information about hearing, ear infections, and deafness.
Address: 31 Center Drive, MSC 2320, Bethesda, MD, 20892-2320
Email: nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov
Phone: (800) 241-1044—(Voice)
Family support
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
International nonprofit membership organization, support network, and resource center on pediatric hearing loss and spoken language approaches and related issues.
Address: 3417 Volta Place, NW, Washington, DC 20007
Email: info@agbell.org
Phone: (202) 337-5220—(Voice)
(202) 337-5221—(TTY)
American Society for Deaf Children
A national organization of families and professionals that helps create opportunities for children who are deaf and hard of hearing to gain full communication access, particularly through the use of sign language.
Address: P.O. Box 23 Woodbine, MD 21797
Email: info@deafchildren.org
Phone: (800) 942-2732—(Voice)
Beginnings For Parents of Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Inc.
Provides emotional support and access to information as a central resource for families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing, age birth through 21 years of age.
Address: 156-A Wind Chime Court Raleigh, NC 27615
Phone: (919) 715- 4092—(Voice)
(800) 541-4327—(Voice) In North Carolina Only
Boys Town National Research Hospital
www.boystownhospital.org/Pages/default.aspx
Provides parents with a variety of helpful information related to hearing loss in children and information about how some parents have responded to their child's hearing loss and how they have learned to better cope with it.
Address: 555 N 30th St., Omaha, NE 68131
Phone: (531) 355-1234—(24 Hour Hotline)
Family Voices
A national, grassroots organization that is a clearinghouse for information and education concerning the health care of children with special health needs.
Address: 561 Virginia Rd, Bldg. 4, Suite 300, Concord, MA 01742
Phone: (781) 674-7224—(Voice)
(888) 835-5669—(Voice)
Hands & Voices
Nonprofit, parent driven organization that provides support to families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Families For Hands & Voices
Address: P.O. Box 3093, Boulder, CO 80307
Email: parentadvocate@handsandvoices.org
Phone: (303) 492-6283
Cochlear implants
Cochlear Implant Education Center
Nussbaum_Scott[1].pdf (gallaudet.edu)
Microsoft Word - CIandSL-CriticalIssues.docx (gallaudet.edu)
A unit of the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University. Investigates, evaluates, and disseminates effective practices related to cochlear implant technology and its role in the education and lives of deaf children from birth through high school.
Gallaudet University Address: 800 Florida Ave. NE, Washington, DC 2000
Phone: (202) 651-5638—(Voice, TTY)
NIDCD Information Clearinghouse
https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/cochlear-implants (federal website)
Answers the following questions: What is a cochlear implant? How does a cochlear implant work? Who gets cochlear implants? How does someone receive a cochlear implant? What does the future hold for cochlear implants? Where can I get additional information?
National Institutes of Health (NIH); National Institute on Deafness & Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Address: 31 Center Drive, MSC 2320, Bethesda, MD USA 20892-2320
Email: nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov
Phone: (800) 241-1044—(Voice)
Communication options
Auditory/verbal
Auditory Learning Center
http://auditorylearningcentre.com
The Center's objective is to promote listening and speaking as a way of life for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Address: Auditory Learning Centre Suite #8 – 2230 West 3rd Ave Vancouver, B.C., V6K 1L4 Canada
E-mail: rosalie@auditorylearningcentre.com
Phone: (778) 737-7577—(Voice)
National Cued Speech Association
Nonprofit membership organization that provides information about Cued Speech and its applications and educational services. Establishes standards for Cued Speech and certifies Cued Speech instructors and transliterators.
Address: P.O. Box 2733 Fairfax, VA 22031-2733
Email: Info@cuedspeech.org
Phone: (800) 459-3529—(Voice, TTY)
Oral education
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
International nonprofit membership organization and resource center on hearing loss and spoken language approaches and related issues.
Address: 3417 Volta Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
Email: info@agbell.org
Phone: (202) 337-5220—(Voice)
(202) 337-5221—(TTY)
Oral Deaf Education "MAKE a joyful noise" information kit
http://handsandvoices.org/comcon/articles/aud_oral_edu.htm
Provides parents and pediatric professionals with resources and information about oral education for children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. The kit includes a handbook, video, copies of articles, and a reading list for parents.
Address: P.O. Box 3093 Boulder CO 80307
Email: webmaster@oraldeafed.org
Phone: (303) 492-6283
Total communication
The S.E.E. (Signing Exact English) Center for the Advancement of Deaf Children
Although this is not strictly a site for information on Total Communication, S.E.E. is often used in Total Communication programs.
Nonprofit organization to work with parents and educators of children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Provides information on Signing Exact English and its uses with the goal of improving English skills and communication.
Address: 5701 Springdale Road Austin, TX 78723
Phone: (512) 919-5313
Deaf-blind
American Association of the Deaf-Blind
National consumer organization of, by, and for deaf-blind Americans. "Deaf-blind" is a broad term that describes people who have varying degrees and types of both vision and hearing loss together.
Address: PO Box 12222 Silver Spring, MD 20908
Email: info@aadb.org
Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths & Adults
Deaf-blind school that offers intensive and comprehensive rehabilitation training to youth and adults who are deaf-blind. Also provides field services and general information.
Address: 141 Middle Neck Road Sands Point, NY 11050
Email: hkncinfo@hknc.org
Phone: (516) 944-8900—(Voice)
National Family Association for Deaf-Blind
Federally funded information and referral service that identifies, coordinates, and disseminates information related to children and youth who are deaf-blind.
Address: P.O. Box 1667 Sands Point, NY 11050
Email: info@nfadb.org
Phone: (800) 255-0411
Deaf culture
Dawnsign Press
American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Materials (books, videos, workbooks, etc.).
Address: 6130 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, CA 92121-3223
Email: contactus@dawnsign.com
Phone: (858) 768-0428—(Video Phone)
(858) 625-0600—(Voice)
National Association of the Deaf
Provides information on programs and activities including grassroots advocacy and empowerment, public awareness, deafness-related information, legal assistance, and policy development.
Address: 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 820 Silver Spring, MD 20910
Email: NADinfo@nad.org
Phone: (301) 587-1788—(Video Phone)
(301) 810-3182—(TTY)
Sign Media, Inc
www.signmedia.com/info/smi.htm
Videotapes and print materials on American Sign Language and American Deaf Culture.
Address: 4020 Blackburn Lane, Burtonsville, MD 20866-1167
Email: info@signmedia.com
Phone: (800) 475-4756
(301) 421-0268—(Voice)
Educational resources
Council on Education of the Deaf
This site facilitates informational sharing and collaborative activities within the field of deaf education.
Kent State University Address: 405 White Hall, College of Education, Kent, OH 44242-0001
Gallaudet University
This site provides information on the only liberal arts university in the United States for undergraduate students who are deaf and hard-of-hearing. Graduate degree programs and continuing education courses are available as well. In addition, the University's Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center serves deaf and hard-of-hearing children at its two demonstration schools and throughout the nation.
Address: 800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695
Phone: (202) 651-5000—(Voice, TTY)
National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID)
This site provides information on the world's first and largest technological college for deaf and hard of hearing students. NTID provides deaf and hard-of-hearing students with technical and professional education programs, complemented by a liberal arts and sciences curriculum.
National Technical Institute for the Deaf Rochester Institute of Technology Address: 52 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester, NY 14623
Email: ntidmc@rit.edu
Phone: (585) 475-6400—(TTY and Voice)
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS), U.S. Department of Education
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/index.html (federal website)
OSERS supports programs that help educate children and youth with disabilities, provides for the rehabilitation of youth and adults with disabilities and supports research to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.
Address: 400 Maryland Ave., S.W. Washington, DC 20202-7100
Phone: (800) 872-5327
Parents as Teachers National Center, Inc. (PAT)
https://parentsasteachers.org/
PAT is an international early childhood parent education and family support program. PAT serves families throughout pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten, usually age 5. The program is designed to enhance child development and school achievement through parent education accessible to all families. It is a universal access model.
Address: 6 City Place, Suite 100St. Louis, MO 63141
Email: customerservice@parentsasteachers.org
Phone: (314) 432-4330—(Voice)
(866) PAT4YOU; (866) 728-4968
Hard of hearing children
Hearing Loss Association of America
Provides adults and children with the tools for self help; sensitizes the general population about the special needs of people who are hard of hearing.
Address: 6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 320 Rockville, MD 20852
E-mail: info@hearingloss.org
Phone: (301) 657-2248—(Voice)
Professional organizations
American Academy of Audiology
Dedicated to providing quality hearing care to the public and provides consumer and professional resources related to hearing care.
Address: 11480 Commerce Park Drive Suite 220 Reston, VA 20191
Phone: (703) 790-8466
American Academy of Family Physicians
A national medical organization of more than 93,000 members (family physicians, family practice residents, and medical students).
Address: 11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway, Leawood, KS 66211-2672
Email: aafp@aafp.org
Phone: (800) 274-2237—(Voice)
American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery
The world's largest organization of physicians dedicated to the care of ear, nose, and throat disorders. This site provides health tips and information related to hearing disorders.
Address: 1650 Diagonal Road, Alexandria, VA 22314-2857
Email: info@entnet.org
Phone: (703) 836-4444—(Voice)
American Academy of Pediatrics
Provides information, alerts, and resources related to the physical, mental, and social health of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
Address: 345 Park Boulevard Itasca, IL 60143
Phone: (800) 433- 9016—(Voice)
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Provides information for the public, professionals, and students about communication and communication disorders.
Address: 2200 Research Blvd., Rockville, MD 20850
Email: actioncenter@asha.org
Phone: (800) 498-2071—For Members Only
(800) 638-8255—For Nonmembers
Resources and services
Bright Futures at Georgetown University
www.brightfutures.org/georgetown/index.html
The mission of Bright Futures is to promote and improve the health, education, and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, families, and communities.
Email: mayerr@georgetown.edu
Hands & Voices
Nonprofit, parent driven organization that provides services, resources, and support, to professionals and families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Address: PO Box 3093, Boulder, CO 80307
Email: parentadvocate@handsandvoices.org
Phone: (303) 492-6283
John Tracy Clinic
Nonprofit organization that provides, world-wide and without charge, parent-centered services to young children with a hearing loss. Services include audiological testing, parent and infant programs, parent classes, a preschool, and a correspondence course that includes information about cochlear implants and auditory development.
Address: 2160 West Adams Blvd., Los Angeles CA, 90018
Email: web@jtc.org
Phone: (213) 748-5481
ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families
A national non-profit organization that promotes the healthy development of infants and toddlers by supporting and strengthening families, communities, and those who work on their behalf. Dedicated to advancing current knowledge; promoting beneficial policies and practices; communicating research and best practices to a wide variety of audiences; and providing training, technical assistance and leadership development.
Address: 2445 M Street NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20037
Phone: (202) 638-1144—(Voice)
State resources
Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
http://www.gallaudet.edu/clerc-center.html
Provides information and referral services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing in each state.
Gallaudet University Address: 800 Florida Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002
E-mail: clerc.center@galludet.edu
Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration
https://mchb.hrsa.gov/maternal-child-health-topics/perinatalinfant-health (federal website)
Provides information about children with hearing loss and Universal Newborn Hearing Screening programs.
Address: Parklawn Building Room 18-05, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: (301) 443-2170—(Voice)
1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)—(Voice) The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
National Center for Hearing Assessment & Management
Provides information about newborn hearing screening programs, contacts, and resources related to hearing loss in each state.
Utah State University Address: 2615 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah 84322
Phone: (435) 797-3584—(Voice)
Unilateral hearing loss
Boys Town National Research Hospital
https://www.boystownhospital.org/knowledge-center/unilateral-hearing-loss
Information about unilateral hearing loss in children, its effects, and where to seek further information.
Audiology Department Address: 555 North 30th Street, Omaha, NE 68131
Phone: (531) 355-1234—(Voice)