Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)
About this book
In this book we offer information, explanations, suggestions, examples, and ideas
to help you respond in a flexible and creative way to the needs of the whole child.
Every child who is deaf or cannot hear well is unique and will be helped most by
approaches and activities that are lovingly adapted to her specific abilities and
needs.
As much as we can, we try to explain basic principles and give reasons for doing
things. After understanding the basic principles behind different activities or
exercises, parents can begin to make adaptations. They can make better use of local
resources and of the opportunities that exist in their own area.
In this book, we define ‘a child who is deaf’ as a child who is unable to hear
anything. We use ‘a child who cannot hear well’ to describe a child who has some
hearing loss but can hear some sounds (many people call this ‘hard of hearing’).
Sometimes, when we refer to both groups together, we use both terms — ‘children
who are deaf or cannot hear well’. But sometimes, for simplicity’s sake, we use one
term or the other, meaning to include all children with
hearing loss.
About the pictures
Since this book is written for people
around the world who care for children
with hearing problems, the drawings
show people from many places. We hope
these drawings will remind you that
people all over the world face the same
challenges you do.