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What resources are available for people with hearing loss and their families?

CDC does not study education or treatment programs for people with hearing loss, nor does it provide direct services to people with hearing loss or to their families. However, CDC has put together a list of resources for people affected by hearing loss or other developmental conditions. [Go to the resources list]

How can we improve the health of people with hearing loss?

People with hearing loss can live healthy lives. There are many federal and federally-funded programs that help people learn to live well with hearing loss or other developmental conditions or disabilities. CDC has put together a list of some of these efforts. [Read more about health improvement programs]

How can kids learn about hearing loss?

CDC has created a series of Kids' Quests to get kids to think about people with disabilities and some of the issues related to participation in daily activities, health, and accessibility. The Quests were written for children in grades 4 to 6, but they can be modified by teachers or parents for use with children of other ages and abilities. Each Quest takes kids through a series of steps that encourage them to use the Internet to learn about a disability and the effects it has on a child's life.

One of the Kids' Quests is about children who have a hard time speaking. This includes children who are deaf or hard of hearing as well as children who have trouble talking for other reasons. [Go to the "difficulty talking with others" Kids' Quest]

Where can I go to learn more about hearing loss?

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
NICHCY provides information about disabilities and disability-related issues for families, teachers, and other professionals. NICHCY has a fact sheet about deafness and hearing loss that includes information about topics such as types of hearing loss, how common hearing loss is among children, the impact of hearing loss on a child's education, and resources. The fact sheet is available in both English and Spanish. NICHCY staff will also give information and referrals over the phone (800-695-0285) or by e-mail (nichcy@aed.org).  (NICHCY used to be called the National Information Center on Children and Youth with Disabilities.)
[In English: Deafness and Hearing Loss]
[En Español: La Sordera y la Pérdida de la Capacidad Auditiva]

MEDLINEplus
MEDLINEplus, an online service of the National Library of Medicine, links users to information on specific health topics, including hearing problems and deafness. MEDLINEplus brings together information from many sources and is updated every day. The site includes information on the latest news, general overviews, screening, diagnosis, treatment, coping, law and policy, organizations, and seniors. Some of the information is in Spanish.
[In English: Hearing Disorders and Deafness | Hearing Problems in Children]
[En Español: Problemas de la Audición y Sordera] | Problemas de Audición en Niños]

MEDLINEplus also has an online tutorial on hearing loss, developed by the Patient Education Institute. The tutorial includes information about anatomy and hearing, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and tips for living well with a hearing loss. When you get to the end of the tutorial, you can print a summary of the information that was presented. [Go to the online tutorial on hearing loss]

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
NIDCD is part of the National Institutes of Health, a government medical research center. NIDCD's Web site includes information about deafness in children, causes of hearing loss, newborn hearing screening, communication options, and resources for teachers. Some of the information is in Spanish. You can also call NIDCD at 800-241-1044 (voice) or 800-241-1055 (TTY) to get answers to your questions. [Go to NIDCD Web site] [NIDCD información en Español]

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) Publications
Staff members at CDC's NCBDDD have written many scientific papers on hearing loss. These papers look at such topics as how common hearing loss is and what causes hearing loss in children. You can use the keyword search on the NCBDDD publications Web page to see a list of papers written since 1990. Choose "hearing loss" in the keyword box on the search page. Also choose your preferences for sorting and graphics.  Then click on the Submit button. The publication list you get will include the complete reference for each paper and, when available, a link to an abstract or the full text of the paper. [Go to NCBDDD publications keyword search page]

This page last updated Friday, August 20, 2004

What is Hearing Loss?  |  How Common Is It?  |  Causes & Prevention  |  Screening  |   Economic Impact  |  Resources  |  Improving Health  |  Kids' Quest  |  Learn More  |  Contact Us

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National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
 

The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) promotes the health of babies, children, and adults, and enhances the potential for full, productive living.  Our work includes identifying the causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities, helping children to develop and reach their full potential, and promoting health and well-being among people of all ages with disabilities.