question

Response classmate Antony;

For this discussion, I selected the article  “Dear Parent” (Volta Voices, 2011).

In this article, the author talks about her child’s hearing loss, learning sign language, and how she felt when doctors first shared the diagnosis. She explains that she felt devastated and still becomes emotional even years later. She also states that a child’s hearing loss can be overwhelming and emotionally draining for families. Consequently, she advises parents to remember who they are and who their children were before the diagnosis. She encourages parents to accept their child’s diagnosis and to seek support groups where they can connect with other families going through similar experiences through the AG Bell organization (Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 2011). In addition, she provides the website  www.agbell.orgLinks to an external site. as a resource for support and information. She also emphasizes the importance of seeking professional assistance to help parents navigate their child’s hearing loss.

What I found most important in this article is how the author explains the emotional impact on parents. I believe it shows that this type of news affects families deeply, not only medically but emotionally as well. I also find that even years later, those emotions can still be present. Consequently, I believe acceptance does not mean the feelings disappear, but it means learning how to move forward while still living with the diagnosis (Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 2011).

In addition, I believe families need both professional and personal support when raising a child with hearing loss. One important support is early intervention services because research shows that early support improves communication outcomes for children with hearing loss (Joint Committee on Infant Hearing [JCIH], 2019). I also believe professional support such as audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and educators is important because they guide families through the process and help them understand how to support their child. At the same time, personal support from other families is also important because it allows parents to connect with people who truly understand their experience.

From my personal connection, although indirectly, I understand how overwhelming it can feel when families have to deal with their child being diagnosed with hearing loss. I am sure the news of the diagnosis is emotionally draining, and families should be encouraged to seek relatable support to help them through the process.

I also found that the messages in  “Welcome to Holland” and  “An Open Letter to Parents” share similar ideas with  “Dear Parent”. These readings are family- and child-centered and emphasize that adjustment and acceptance take time. I like how all of the readings supported families and encouraged them to gradually embrace their reality, advised them on how to transition through change, and learn how to move forward while remembering that they and their children are still the same. The only change is the child’s diagnosis, not who they were created to be, while still supporting their child.

Questions:

1. Based on the article  Dear Parent, what advice would you give families when it comes to looking for support after hearing that their child’s hearing is impaired?

2. How would you balance a family seeking professional help as well as personal help? Do you think both are important, or can one replace the other?

3. How would you encourage families who are non-English speakers to seek professional help that would support their children?

4. What advice would you give to parents and families who may be in denial after hearing the diagnosis of their child’s hearing loss?

References Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. (2011).  Dear parent. Volta Voices, 18(3), 12–13.