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“There’s so much information out there [and] lots of gaps in what you understand. And that’s the hard bit: you’ve been given this information and you want to launch into action – and you don’t know what to do.”
Hannah, Mum to Hayden who has bilateral moderate sensorineural hearing loss
When you first discover your child is deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), you may get bombarded with advice. From friends and family to health professionals, you’ll probably hear lots of different opinions.
So, how do you sort good advice from bad or work out which is best for your child and family?
Fortunately, there are ways to sift through your options and make informed decisions.
Consider the quality of the advice
Some opinions hold more weight than others. For example, evidence-based advice from a specialist is a lot more credible than advice from an Instagram influencer.
Well-meaning people may not have the most up-to-date or thorough knowledge, whereas your health professionals do.
Seek information from legitimate, research backed sources that are not trying to push a specific approach or service.
Seek advice from several people
It can be helpful to seek opinions from a few different people, including other parents of deaf children and various health professionals.
If you get the same advice from a range of sources, it’s more likely to be right.
Make changes if you need to
Your choices are not set in stone. You can always change direction if things aren’t working out how you’d hoped. Knowing this can free you from ‘analysis paralysis’ and allow you to move on.
Trust your instincts
There’s a place for trusting your gut when you’re making decisions. You know your child best, so don’t let someone pressure you into something that feels uncomfortable. You can always seek out more information before making a choice.
Remember, health professionals can partner with you in finding options that work for your child and family. Don’t be afraid to share your thoughts with them and ask them lots of questions.
