On Wed. May 25th, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on deaf and hard of hearing children.  The report, titled "Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children: Federal Support for Developing Language and Literacy," was completed "to better understand how federal programs support deaf and hard of hearing children."

"The GAO was asked to examine the: (1) extent of hearing loss among children, (2) settings in which these children are educated, (3) factors that help deaf and hard of hearing children acquire language and literacy skills, and (4) challenges to providing appropriate interventions for these children. GAO analyzed data on hearing loss; reviewed research literature; interviewed educators, national organizations, parents, and state and federal officials; and examined relevant federal laws and regulations. A draft of this report was provided to the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services for review and comment. Each provided technical comments, which were incorporated into the report, as appropriate. GAO makes no recommendations in this report."