Resources for Parents of Children with Hearing Loss

Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctors
 (There may be more ENT's in the area that are not listed here.)

Ear, Nose, and Throat Center:
Dr. Kosta, Dr. Sprik, Dr. Winkle, and Dr. Afman (Click here for address and website)

Grand Rapids Ear, Nose and Throat:
Dr. Cox, Dr. Meleca, Dr. Pfenneg, Dr. Spooner, Dr. Taylor, Dr. Trask (Click here for address and website)

Michigan Medical:
616-456-7758 (Office), 616-456-9290 (Fax)
Dr. Hart: 80  68th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49548
Dr. Postma: 221 Michigan Street NE, Suite 502, Grand Rapids, MI 49548


Audiologists
 (Only three of the most common Audiologists are listed here. Some of the ENT's have their own Audiologists. Please check the yellow pages for other listings.)

Hear USA (2 locations): www.hearusa.com
1000 E. Paris Ave., Grand Rapids, MI 49546-3691, 616-942-1660
751 Kenmoor Ave SE #B, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-2391, 616-954-1895

Advanced Audiology: http://www.advancedaudiologydewitt.com
Linda Wright is the audiologist that owns and runs Advanced Audiology in Dewitt, Michigan.

Central Michigan University (CMU) Carls Center-Audiology and Speech and Language Pathology
Health Professional Building Dr., Mount Pleasant, MI 48804, 616-774-3904

This section was developed in hopes of helping to support families emotionally.  The emotional feelings that go along with having a child with a hearing loss are very real.  You are not alone.  There are agencies listed below that want to help guide you.  Please feel comfortable sharing your feelings with me as well.  I will do my best to listen!  I've shared the letter "Welcome to Holland" (Click Here), which was written by a parent who describes how she feels about having a child with special needs.

I'd also like to share a short article written by a professor about helping parents through the grief process of having a child with special needs. Although this article is written for educators, I think it has a lot of value for parents. It discusses how parents grieve a loss when they learn that their child has a disability. The parent may go through the stages of grief. All parents' grief "process" is different. Please read "Children with Special Needs: Helping Parents through Grief" (Click Here).

 "Guide By Your Side"
This resource gives families, who recently learned of their child's hearing loss, an opportunity to meet with another parent of a deaf or hard of hearing child.
Click here to download a brochure from Guide by Your Side.

Michigan Alliance for Families
Michigan Alliance for Families works to provide services and support to Michigan families of children with disabilities.

The University of Michigan has a social worker who works through a grant.  She works with families who have children with hearing loss to help with the emotional aspects of having a child with a disability.  Please contact me if you'd be interested in this service, and I will help you put this in place.

Listed below are various web sites that provide support with learning sign language. "Signing Time" is a TV show that was on PBS. This is an excellent resource to teach yourself and your child new sign language. Ask Kelly Taylor to borrow a Signing Time DVD from our Parent Lending Library.

Learn how to finger spell the alphabet.

Learn numbers in sign language.

American Sign Language University.

Signing Savvy.
 

Born Learning
Fun educational activities that promote listening, language, and learning.

Bridges 4 Kids
Dedicated to helping families by providing a comprehensive system of information and referral for parents and professionals seeking help for children from birth through transition to adult life in the State of Michigan.

Developmental Activities for zero to four year olds

Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
This web site has developmental milestone information and activities to enhance language and learning. This is a good website.

My Baby's Hearing

Learn all about your baby's hearing and the many options available to you. (This is my favorite site!!!)

Communicate with your Child 

Many websites are available as resources for parents.

Raising Deaf Kids

This is a comprehensive website that explains hearing, what hearing loss is, how it affects a child, etc.

National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management

This site has several links for parents to resources, manuals, etc.

Michigan Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (MI-EHDI)

Resources available in Michigan for families.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Hearing Loss in Children

This website has free handouts and materials for parents.