Overview
If you’ve just found out your child has a hearing loss, you are about to embark on a journey of discovery together. That journey is different for every family and changes as your child goes through different ages and stages of life.
When your child advances from infancy to adolescence and young adulthood, they experience many physical, social and emotional changes. Our approach is to provide relevant information and support tailored to your child’s evolving development and communication needs.
These resources were created in 2019 by the Deaf Society as part of a project called Hearo. They are now owned by Deaf Connect.
Early Intervention & Preschool
Early intervention can empower you and help your child develop the necessary skills to thrive in their pre-school years.
Our research highlights that what parents need is not more information on the topic of hearing loss but what is relevant for their child as they develop through different stages of life.
Click Learn More for resources about:
- Embarking on a bi-lingual and bi-cultural experience
- Insights from Teachers of the Deaf
- Deaf community support for you and your child
Primary School
If your child is deaf or hard of hearing, starting school is a new milestone that can pose many challenges but also exciting possibilities.
Going to primary school means your child’s world is about to expand. You will want to make sure they have all the supports in place to prepare them for their next stage of physical, social and communication development.
Click Learn More for resources about:
- Finding educational support
- Encouraging independence & self-advocacy
- The Parent-to-Parent Mentor Program
High School And Beyond
The teenage years are a tumultuous time of intense growth, not only physically but emotionally and intellectually. Having a teenager who is deaf or hard of hearing adds another layer of complexity to what a challenging time for most families can already be.
It’s important to remember that this stage is your child at their most energetic, thoughtful and idealistic self. So, although it can be a period of conflict between parent and child, the teen years are also a time to help kids grow into distinct and independent adults.
Click Learn More about:
- Indy and her experience through High School
- Anita and her journey beyond school
- Naomi and her empowerment through the Deaf Youth Community
Therapy & Family Services
Deaf Connect offer a range of allied health services, family support services and mentorship programs tailored to the individual experience of each family including:
- Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychologists and Teachers of the Deaf
- Parent-to-Parent Mentor program
- Hear for Kids in School program
- Provision of services through NDIS, Medicare and private healthcare
