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NCHAM: National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management, Utah State University

Last Modified: 08/16/2011

Culturally Competent Family Support

The goal of culturally competent family support is to aid the cause and interests of families who have a deaf or hard of hearing child, and to promote polices that further these causes and interests, in a manner which is sensitive to families from racially, ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Boys Town National Research Hospital has developed an excellent web site, My Baby's Hearing, for parents with question about newborn hearing screening and for those parents with infants identified with a hearing impairment.

Also see our popular family resource: Learning About Hearing Loss—A Roadmap for Families [PDF]

parents with their child, who is getting a hearing screening

Learning About Hearing Loss:
A Roadmap for Families [PDF]

Hands & Voices

Hands and Voices logo: a child's hand with a spiral in the center

Hands & Voices is dedicated to supporting families with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing without a bias around communication modes or methodology. We’re a parent-driven, non-profit organization providing families with the resources, networks, and information they need to improve communication access and educational outcomes for their children. Our outreach activities, parent/professional collaboration, and advocacy efforts are focused on enabling Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children to reach their highest potential.

Hands & Voices is a partner with NCHAM to provide parent-to-parent support, systemic representation of families, and resources/product development in the Early Hearing Detection and Invention system.

Additionally, Hands & Voices has over 35 chapters and startup chapters, many of which are directly involved in the implementation of EHDI grants at the state level, including the Hands & Voice Guide By Your Side Program

Examples of projects that Hands & Voices are involved with at the national and state level include:

Also see The Hands & Voices Communicator: The News Source for Family Support (featured articles)

Manuals & Workbooks for Parents

Some states have developed resource manuals and interactive workbooks for parents with a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. While some of the information found within these resources are state specific, the majority of the information applies to all families, regardless of where they live. For examples, please see:

Links to Family Support Resources

NCHAM has compiled a set of links to websites pertaining to family support under the following topics:

American Academy of Pediatrics

Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, Diagnosis, and Intervention - Guidelines for Pediatric Medical Home Providers:

NCHAM'S EHDI E-Book