ResourcesFlying Colours
Discovering that your child is deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) will affect you, and also your other children and extended family members.
People may have various reactions to the news and experience a wide range of emotions in the days, weeks, and months afterwards. Feelings like confusion, sadness, worry, and jealousy are common.
Part of adjusting to your new normal will involve working together with your wider family to adjust and become more deaf aware – which simply means understanding more about deafness and how to help your DHH child thrive.
Explaining the news
You might be wondering how to tell others about the diagnosis when you’re still grappling with it yourself. Here are some ideas that may help.
- Pick a way that works for you – you’ll probably want to tell your other children about the diagnosis in person but could let extended family know by phone or text, for example.
- Use books, games, and online resources to aid understanding – the resources at flying colours are designed especially for this purpose.
- Be open and honest – discussing your child’s diagnosis in a straightforward way is usually best, especially with people who are not familiar with deafness.
- Learn more about how to tell people your child is deaf.
In Australia, three to six children in every thousand have some degree of hearing loss.
Building communication
Babies and children need plenty of family interaction to build the communication, social, and emotional skills they’ll need throughout life.
Deaf children and families can choose many different ways to communicate, and the whole family can adapt or learn new communication strategies.
Your family can start building deaf-friendly communication skills by:
- Looking at the child when you speak
- Responding when they interact with you (Eg. by smiling, babbling, or reaching out)
- Creating a good listening environment
- Using lots of non-verbal communication, such as hand gestures and facial expressions
- Learn more about early signing and tips for good communication at home
Supporting siblings
Growing up with siblings has ups and downs in any family. But siblings of a deaf child may experience additional challenges. For example, they might feel jealous of the attention the DHH child needs, or a sense of responsibility for them.
Some ways you can support your other children include:
- Giving them a chance to express their feelings
- Being patient and understanding – it takes time to adjust to the changes
- Encouraging them to learn more about deafness
- Taking them to events and activities for deaf children and their siblings
- Setting aside special time for each child as regularly as you can
- Learn more ways to become a deaf-friendly family
Other ways to strengthen your family’s deaf awareness
- Learn as much as you can about deafness
- Join online communities and forums for DHH kids and families
- Take part in events and activities for DHH kids and families
- Take part in our free Parent Mentor Program
