Research
shows that when children with hearing loss receive specialized
services early – beginning before 6 months of age – their
communication skills and education may remain on par with their
hearing peers. These services, known as early intervention, typically include speech-language therapy, audiology, and special instruction, but may also include others.
Ultimately,
the decision of how best to treat hearing loss, or whether to
treat it at all, depends entirely upon your family's unique set of
circumstances, values, lifestyle
choices, medical considerations, philosophy
and goals. Most families are unfamiliar with hearing loss
and must make many decisions in a short period of time to ensure
the optimal
development
of their child who has a hearing loss.
Because
parents and families of children who have been newly diagnosed
with hearing loss do not have
a central information resource, The
Hearing and Speech Agency with the support of the Maryland
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene through funding from the Maternal
and Child
Health Bureau (H61MC008) has developed materials along with
this website to help bridge this gap of information. Additionally,
we
have a Parent Resource Center in our headquarters that is available
to families who would like to come in and use our materials
to learn more about health and education options for children who
are
deaf, hard of hearing or who have communication disabilities.
Maryland
Keys to Communication is an 8-session tutorial program designed by
a multi-disciplinary team of professionals of The Hearing and Speech
Agency to provide you and your family with the information and resources
required to make informed decisions.
As
family needs change and new challenges arise, you can count on The
Hearing
and Speech Agency being your lifetime resource. Our goal is that
this program will give you the information you need now and that
it continues
to be a valuable resource for you in the weeks, months and years
ahead.
Our
entire team -- educators, speech-language pathologists, audiologists
and a social worker -- is available to you and your family now and
at any future time. Please visit this site, use these materials,
and tell
others. Feel free to contact us if you would like to use our Parent
Resource Center, or if you simply have questions or suggestions.
We welcome
hearing from you!
Susan
H. Glasgow, M.A., CCC-SLP
Executive Director
The Hearing and Speech Agency
