Following is a list of links to agencies, organizations and other web sites that provide a wide variety of information, services and resources of interest to the deaf and hardof hearing and to their families.
ACI Alliance Organization: American Cochlear Implant Alliance
ACI Alliance unites the medical community, patients, families, advocates and other professionals to improve the acceptance of and access to cochlear implants for one simple reason: to help enrich people’s lives.
The organizational website offers comprehensive information on cochlear implants including a step-by-step guide on the cochlear implant process, information on health insurance coverage, and details on cochlear implant candidacy and outcomes for children and adults.
AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language
The AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language is an independently governed, subsidiary corporation of The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The Academy envisions a future where individuals and families will have qualified listening and spoken language professionals available in their immediate geographic area.
Alexander Graham Bell Association
AG Bell isan international membership organization of parents of children who are deaf and hard of hearing, adults with hearing loss and professionals. This comprehensive web site provides general hearing loss information, book recommendations, financial aid and scholarships, and action alerts on legislative developments. Separate sections support teens with hearing loss (an interactive website devoted to teen issues and hearing loss), adults with hearing loss (supporting action on the local and national level and the mentoring of young children who are deaf or hard of hearing) and parents (providing emotional support, information, referral to appropriate services and advocacy).
American Academy of Audiology
The American Academy of Audiology is the world’s largest professional organization of, for and by audiologists. The consumer section of the web site has a series of articles on hearing loss, early infant hearing screening, hearing aids and more with some articles in Spanish.
American Academy of Otolaryngology
This professional organization for ear, nose and throat specialists offers quality information for patients and families. The web site includes a Health Information section in English and Spanish on topics such as ears, hearing, and balance; a special section on children’s problems called Kids ENT; and timely updates on developments in the field on their homepage called In The Spotlight.
American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC)
ASDC is a national, non-profit membership organization providing support, encouragement, and information to families raising children who are deaf or hard of hearing. ASDC’s primary mission is to advocate for the highest quality programs and services for parents so they can make informed choices about their children’s educational, communication, personal and social needs. Membership includes access to materials from ASDC’s resource list and their free lending library, a subscription to their newsletter, a Biennial Convention, and more.
American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA)
The professional and credentialing organization for speech, language and hearing professionals, the ASHA web site contains information for the public on speech and language development, hearingloss in children and adults, hearing screening, treatment and rehabilitation, and much more.
Association of Late-Deafened Adults
This association is comprised of individuals who became deaf after the time of development of speech and language. The web site provides resources and information and promotes advocacy and awareness of the needs of deafened adults. Features offered include a list of regional chapters and self-help support groups, an email board and discussion lists, volunteer opportunities, conference information and more.
Auditory-Verbal International
The Auditory-Verbal approach is based upon a set of guiding principles which enable children who are deaf or hard of hearing to learn to use even minimal amounts of amplified residual hearing or hearing through electrical stimulation (cochlear implants) to listen, to process verbal language, and to speak. Their web site describes the principles of the auditory-verbal approach, evidence that supports the practice, a parent’s guide on how to evaluate achild 0-6 years of age, a Parent’s Page that offers a circle of support with other parents via email or personal web pages, scholarship information, and more. Some information on the site is available in Spanish.
Better Hearing Institute
The Better Hearing Institute is a nonprofit organization devoted to raising awareness of hearing health issues, treatment options, and the prevention of hearing loss. Their web site provides information on hearing loss, hearing solutions and an extensive resource guide including information on adult support groups, advocacy, assistive technology, education, employment, financial assistance, scholarships and more.
Center for Hearing and Communication
The Center for Hearing and Communication provides hearing health services to people of all ages who have a hearing loss. With offices in New York City and Florida, CHC meets all of your hearing and communication needs through professional services that offer the highest level of clinical expertise and technical know-how availablein the hearing healthcare field.
Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech
Clarke provides children who are deaf and hard of hearing with the listening, learning and spoken language skills they need to succeed. Clarke impacts the lives of children and adults through educational and early childhood programs, hearing services, mainstream services, research, curriculum development and the teachers and professionals trained by Clarke. Annually, more than 1,000 children and their families benefit from programs and services at their five campus locations: Boston, Jacksonville, New York City, Northampton and Philadelphia.
Cochlear Implant Awareness Foundation
The Cochlear Implant Awareness Foundation was formed to connect people with information and resources they need to make an educated decision about CI surgery and offer guidance and support to people who choose to become recipients.
Deafness Research Foundation
The Deafness Research Foundation is a voluntary health organization dedicated to research on hearing loss and promoting lifelong hearing health as a national priority. Their website contains articles on cochlear implants and other hearing loss issues, a resource directory and a soon to be added resource directory by state.
Healthy Hearing
Healthy Hearing features up-to-the-minute news, information and resources for those interested in hearing, the causes and treatment of hearing loss, and hearing amplification systems. It also offers opportunities for information exchange and support for those faced with hearing disorders and the challenges of hearing impairment.
Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)
HLAA provides assistance and resources for people with hearing loss and their families to learn how to adjust to living with hearing loss.
Hear-It
Established to increase public awareness of hearing impairment, this web site covers many issues concerning hearing impairment including practical information forthe hearing-impaired, prevention of hearing loss, information for relatives and colleagues of the hearing impaired, statistics about hearing loss and consequences of hearing loss.
Listen Up
This user-friendly web site provides cochlear implant information, products and resources. It includes a ListServ for parents, two innovative programs for children with hearing loss (“Listen Up” which emphasizes auditory skills and “Talk It Up” which develops verbal abilities), and an extensive resource section and bookstore. Resources in Spanish are also available.
National Cued Speech Association
This membership organization provides advocacy and support on the use of Cued Speech. The web site offers information and services to people of all ages with hearing impairments, their families, friends, and professional colleagues.
National Association of the Deaf
This local and national membership association for deaf people offers opportunities for advocacy, news and programs and services.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
This government resource from the National Institutes of Health provides reliable information on research studies, health information in English and Spanish, and health resources on deafness and communication disorders. Specific information on cochlear implants.
(See) Center for the Advancement of Deaf Children
A non-profit organization established to work with parents and educators of hearing impaired children. The web site provides information on SEE (Signing Exact English), the causes of deafness, parent’s information, research articles, and a bulletin board.
