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HomeResources and SupportA-Z health resourcesHard of hearing or deaf and sign language

Hard of hearing or deaf and sign language

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Below you will find a variety of resources to help you better understand, cope with and/or support someone who is hard of hearing, deaf or uses sign language.

Books

Baby sign language basics: early communication for hearing babies and toddlers

Briant, Monta Z. -- Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, 2009.

In this book, parents will learn how to make sign language a part of their everyday interactions with their children. Also available in DVD format

The baby signing bible: baby sign language made easy

Berg, Laura. -- New York: Avery, 2012.

This book provides step-by-step instructions for parents and other caregivers, as well as insight into why baby sign language is useful for children of all ages. Featuring 400 signs, the book covers essential nouns such as milk, verbs such as eat, and descriptors such as more. In addition, it features real-life stories from parents who have successfully signed with their children, along with fun songs and games that help families learn to sign and sing.

Baby signing time! signing fun with your little one! [DVD]

[Salt Lake City, Utah]: Two Little Hands Productions, 2005.

This DVD provides vocabulary specific to the daily routines of children from birth to three years.

Better communication and cochlear implants: a user's guide

Austin, TX: Hear Again, 2000.

This workbook is filled with information and practice activities that will help the cochlear implant user learn how to hear again.

Choices in deafness: a parents' guide to communication options

Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, 2007.

This guide provides comprehensive information on various methodologies with straightforward delivery, offering the perspective of parents and of children who have grown up since the publication of the first edition. This edition also covers in depth the medical causes of hearing loss, the diagnostic process, meeting with the audiologist, and the pros and cons of the newest technology, the cochlear implant.

El Deafo

Bell, CeCe; Lasky, David (ill.). -- New York: Amulet Books, 2014.

Going to school and making new friends can be tough. But going to school and making new friends while wearing a bulky hearing aid strapped to your chest? That requires superpowers! In this funny, poignant graphic novel memoir, author/illustrator Cece Bell chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerful--and very awkward--hearing aid. The Phonic Ear gives Cece the ability to hear--sometimes things she shouldn't--but also isolates her from her classmates. She really just wants to fit in and find a true friend, someone who appreciates her as she is. After some trouble, she is finally able to harness the power of the Phonic Ear and become "El Deafo, Listener for All.

Raising and educating a deaf child

Marschark, Marc -- New York: Oxford UP, 2007.

This second edition offers a readable, comprehensive summary of everything a parent or teacher would want to know about raising and educating a deaf child. It covers topics ranging from what it means to be deaf to the many ways that the environments of home and school can influence a deaf child's chances for success in academic and social circles. The new edition provides expanded coverage of cochlear implants, spoken language, mental health, and educational issues relating to deaf children enrolled in integrated and separate settings.

A screaming kind of day

Gilmore, Rachna -- Toronto: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1999.

About a young hearing-impaired girl, her family, and her love for the rain. Appropriate for ages: 4-8 years

Sign language: my first 100 words

Nelson, Michiyo. -- New York: Scholastic, 2008.

Featuring sleek graphic illustrations and a simple kid-friendly design, this reference book makes learning sign language fun and easy. Learn one hundred basic signs for everyday use in helpful categories. Also includes instructions on how to finger spell the entire alphabet.

Sign language for kids: a fun & easy guide to American Sign Language

Heller, Laura. -- New York: Sterling Pub. Co., 2004.

From the ABCs and the 1-2-3s, to full sentences, this guide teaches youngsters all the basics of American Sign Language (ASL). It starts with the alphabet and counting, and moves on to vocabulary for family, pets, and the home; things at school; days of the week; colors; favorite foods; sports and hobbies; and much more. Often, a sentence accompanies the sign, so that kids can grasp the use of verbs and other parts of ASL grammar.

Sign language made simple

Lawrence, Edgar D -- Springfield, MI: Gospel Publishing House, 1999.

This book teaches sign language in sentences rather than individual words. It includes graphic drawings, index, and additional learning tools.

Signing: signed English: a basic guide

Bornstein, Harry -- New York: Crown, 1984.

This is a quick-reference dictionary to sign language for everyone who wants to communicate with someone who is deaf or hearing-impaired.

Starting point: a resource for parents of deaf or hard of hearing children

Canadian Hearing Society -- Toronto: Canadian Hearing Society, 1999.

Taking hearing impairment to school 

Schneider, Elaine Ernst -- Plainview, NY: Jayjo Books, 2004.

Through Jacob's story, readers learn about sign language, interpreters, hearing aids and speech therapy for kids with hearing impairments.

The young deaf or hard of hearing child a family-centered approach to early education

Baltimore, MA: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. 2003.

This book is a scholarly resource that provides guiding principles and strategies for early intervention professionals working with deaf and hard of hearing infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and their families. The book takes a family-centered approach and supplements its broad research base with concrete suggestions and vignettes illustrating the experiences of early interventionists and parents of deaf and hard of hearing young children. This book discusses language and literacy, family-centered services, legislation and policy considerations, program development and evaluation, and educational strategies for teaching young children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Websites

  • The Canadian Hearing Society / Société canadienne de l'ouïe
  • The Hearing Foundation of Canada / La foundation canadienne de l'ouïe
  • AQEPA: Association du Québec pour enfants avec problèmes auditifs
  • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
  • National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
  • Hearing Problems in Children – MedlinePlus from the U.S. National Library of Medicine
  • A.G Bell Association for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing
  • VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children
  • Canadian Academy of Audiology

Apps

  • Sign ASL

    From Daniel Mitchel

    English

    Free

    Last updated January 2019

    From Google Play: Search and compare thousands of words and phrases in American Sign Language. Easily find and view signs on your mobile device. Over 30,000 signs to view in this video dictionary.

    Available from Google Play and iTunes 

Local Contacts

  • Canadian Association of the Deaf
    Suite 606, 251 Bank St.
    Ottawa, ON K2P 1X3
    613-565-2882
    info@cad.ca
  • Canadian Hearing Society 
    CHS Ottawa
    1620 Scott Street, Suite 13
    Ottawa, ON K1Y 4S7
    TTY 877-215-9530
    info@chs.ca

Disclaimer

These resources are for educational purposes only. If you have any questions, ask your health-care provider.

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