EHDI Resources and Information
Resources and Supports for Families of Children of All Ages who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Beginnings
BEGINNINGS was founded on the premise that parents, given accurate, objective information about hearing loss, could make sound decisions for their child.
Boys Town National Research Hospital
Center for Childhood Deafness
Boys Town is a research center on hearing loss and related disorders. Provides educational materials for families of deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
Hear to Learn
Educational resources for families and professionals including monthly free webinars about the development of Listening and Spoken Language (LSL)
John Tracy Clinic
Provides parent-centered services to families of children birth through five years who have
diagnosed hearing losses.
Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/
(202) 651-5051
Resources for parents of children of all ages. This resource focuses primarily on American Sign Language but does include some information about technology use as well.
National Center For Hearing and Management (NCHAM)
NCHAM serves as a support for EHDI (early hearing detection and intervention) programs but also shares resources and supports for families. You can find webinars (live and recorded) on this page in addition to language development resources.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing-ear-infections-deafness
Wide scope of information for families and parents regarding hearing loss/deafness, communication options, and syndromes related to hearing loss.
Early Intervention Resources
Baby Watch Early Intervention Programs
Provides early identification and developmental services for families of infants and toddlers, ages birth to three.
Parent Infant Program (PIP)
(801) 464-2028, (800) 990-9328
Coordinated through Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, the PIP program is the Early Intervention Program in the State that specifically serves children who are deaf/hard of hearing.
Sound Beginnings, Utah State University
Sound Beginnings of Cache Valley is an early education program that provides home and center-based services to children with hearing loss whose families want their children to learn to listen and talk.
CSHCN EHDI Program (medical home portal)
https://health.utah.gov/cshcn/programs/ehdi.html
Communication Resources:
Relay Utah
Relay Utah provides access to hearing assistive equipment and telephone relay services, to allow Utah citizens who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-disabled more efficient communication.
Video/Phone Services
Videophones are used to help the deaf/hard of hearing communicate with the aid of an interpreter. These are free for individuals using ASL to communicate with.
Sorensen Communications
Purple Communication
National Cued Speech Association
The National Cued Speech Association supports effective spoken communication, language development, and literacy through the use of Cued Speech (visual cueing using manual signs).
SignIt!
https://www.infanthearing.org/signit/index.php
SignIt! is an innovative new online curriculum for learning American Sign Language (ASL). The instruction is done by professional actors (both deaf and hearing) who are fluent in ASL and is highly interactive, entertaining, and engaging. You can complete the lessons at your own pace. Built-in quizzes provide feedback about how well you are learning the material, and there is ample opportunity for practice. You’ll see video vignettes showing conversational ASL, interviews with deaf celebrities, and instructions about ASL grammar and Deaf culture. Use this link to access FREE lessons and curriculum.
ASL Nook
ASL Nook focuses on helping to build ASL vocabulary and phrases through small, engaging skits performed by a young Deaf family. All their content is FREE
ASL University
An online curriculum resource for American Sign Language (ASL) students, instructors, interpreters, and parents of deaf children.
Funding Sources
Utah Department of Health, Children with Special Health Care Needs
CHAP – Children’s Hearing Aid Program (Birth up to 6th birthday)
familyhealth.utah.gov/cshcn/chap
HARP – Hearing Aid Recycling Program (6 – 18 years)
These hearing aid programs provide hearing aids to financially eligible Utah families.
USDB Foundation
The USDB Foundation’s mission is to support Utah children who are deaf, blind, or deaf-blind.
Olive Osmond Foundation
The Olive Osmond Foundation raises awareness about deafness and provides opportunities for families without insurance coverage to obtain hearing aids for their child.
The Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment (Hike) Fund, International Center for Job’s Daughters
The Hike Fund helps families pay for medical expenses and equipment that aren’t covered by insurance.
Angel’s Hands Foundation
For families with children who have rare or undiagnosed
First Hand Foundation
The First Hand Foundation helps families pay for medical expenses and equipment that aren’t covered by insurance.
Hear Now/Starkey Foundation
https://www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org/Hearing-Assistance
Starkey Hearing Foundation has provided more hearing help to people in the United States than to any other country. Hear Now is our application-based program that provides hearing aid assistance to Americans with low income and low assets.
The Guaranteed Foundation Rate (GFR)
Helps families pay for medical costs/equipment that would not be covered by insurance. They provide funding through grants. It can be anything from rent, groceries, accessible vans, lifts, equipment, meds, wheelchairs, etc. Request Assistance | Guaranteed Rate
Additional Medical Resources
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) National
CMV can have varying effects on babies, and one of the most common and significant complications associated with congenital CMV infection is hearing loss. Learn how CMV can affect babies and lead to hearing loss.
familyhealth.utah.gov/cshcn/cmv
Medical Home Portal
Support families and professionals in working together to care and advocate for children with special healthcare needs.
medicalhomeportal.org/living-with-child
medicalhomeportal.org/living-with-child/diagnoses-and-conditions—faqs/hearing-loss-and-deafness
Transition Services
National Center for the Deaf (NDC)
https://www.nationaldeafcenter.org/
The National Center for the Deaf provides resources and support for teens and youth that are Deaf/hard of hearing in their transition process from high school to college and or work.
Transition From Early Intervention to Preschool:
https://utahparentcenter.org/resources/eitopreschool/
Transition University
Utah-Specific Resources
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (A.G. Bell) – Utah Chapter
facebook.com/utahagbell
A membership organization and information center focusing specifically on children with hearing loss and learning to speak and hear. Financial aid programs are available for children with hearing loss.
Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH)
Facebook: @UtahDeafHHServices, @SoUtahDeafHHProgram
A state-funded program designed to provide resources and supports to individuals who are deaf/hard of hearing. Resources for housing, employment, interpreting services, and summer camps can be found here.
Hearing Loss Association of America – Salt Lake City Chapter
Non-profit agency that provides resources and community events for individuals who are deaf/hard of hearing.
Parent Infant Program (PIP)
(801) 464-2028, (800) 990-9328
Coordinated through Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, the PIP program is the Early Intervention Program in the State that specifically serves children who are deaf/hard of hearing.
Sound Beginnings
http://soundbeginnings.usu.edu
Sound Beginnings at Utah State University is an early education program that provides home and center-based services to children with a diagnosed hearing loss whose families want their children to learn to listen and talk. Sound Beginnings is located on the campus of Utah State University, Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department in Logan, Utah.
Utah Association for the Deaf
A non-profit organization dedicated to the educational, social, and economic welfare of the Deaf in the State of Utah.
Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB)
USDB is the only Special Education School in the State of Utah that provides educational services for the deaf/hard of hearing who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate. They do also offer educational services for Deaf/hard-of-hearing children that use Listening and Spoken Language (LSL).
Utah Assistive Technology Foundation
(435) 797-3824
http://www.uatpat.org/financing/
Have helped thousands of Utahns with disabilities of all ages obtain loans and grants to purchase the assistive technology that allows them to be more independent, productive, and successful at home, at school, at work, and in the community.
Utah Center for Assistive Technology (UCAT)
https://jobs.utah.gov/usor/vr/services/ucat.html
A statewide resource offering information and technical services to help people with disabilities acquire and use assistive technology devices. UCAT offers free evaluations to anyone within the state of Utah.
Additonal Resources/Organizations
ASL Resources:
SignIt -Free ASL curriculum for families of newly identified children who are DHH
Front Page – American Society for Deaf Children Free One-year Membership for Utah families, use code: UTEHDI
Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH): https://jobs.utah.gov/usor/dhh/events/northerncalendar.html
ASL for Free – Gallaudet University
Reading:
The 15 Principles for Reading to Deaf Children – Reading to Deaf Children; Learning from Deaf Adults
Reading Together: Tips for Parents of Children with Hearing Loss or Deafness | Reading Rockets
Social-Emotional Development:
VL2 :: Research Briefs in Spanish
LSL Resources:
LslLife.com – By Hearing First
Language First — Language First
Audiology Resources:
Personal Safety:
Kidpower International | Kidpower International
American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC)
Another membership organization that provides information about signing and Deaf culture. It also provides support and encouragement to parents and families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Utah Families qualify for a FREE one-year membership. Use code: UTEHDI at registration.
Hands and Voices
Hands & Voices is a parent-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to providing unbiased
support to families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Their goal is to connect families with resources and information to facilitate informed decisions around the issues of deafness and hearing loss.
Utah Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program
familyhealth.utah.gov/cshcn/ehdi
This is a Utah-specific informational site on newborn hearing screening and its follow-up. There is a specific tab for Parents on the homepage.
Utah Family Voices
The regional affiliate of a national advocacy group organized and operated by parents of children with special health care needs.
National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing-ear-infections-deafness
NIDCD supports biomedical and behavioral research and research training in the processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language. The Institute also conducts and supports research and research training associated with people who have communication impairments or disorders.