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  • ABOUT US
    • PARTNERSHIPS
  • PARENT RESOURCES
    • NEXT STEPS AFTER A FAILED HEARING SCREENING
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • AGES AND STAGES
    • BIRTH TO AGE 3
    • PRE-K & KINDERGARTEN
    • 1st GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
    • BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL
  • MUSIC PROGRAMMING
    • MTME SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM – EARLY CHILDHOOD & INSTRUMENT MUSIC CLASSES
    • SCHOOL BASED MUSIC PROGRAMS
    • MUSIC THERAPY
  • EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
    • LITERACY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • CLINICAL & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
    • LOANER HEARING AID PROGRAM
    • POLICY AND ADVOCACY
    • LURIE CHILDREN’S PARTNERSHIP
  • ACCESS & INCLUSION
  • EVENTS
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  • ABOUT US
    • PARTNERSHIPS
  • PARENT RESOURCES
    • NEXT STEPS AFTER A FAILED HEARING SCREENING
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • AGES AND STAGES
    • BIRTH TO AGE 3
    • PRE-K & KINDERGARTEN
    • 1st GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
    • BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL
  • MUSIC PROGRAMMING
    • MTME SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM – EARLY CHILDHOOD & INSTRUMENT MUSIC CLASSES
    • SCHOOL BASED MUSIC PROGRAMS
    • MUSIC THERAPY
  • EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
    • LITERACY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • CLINICAL & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
    • LOANER HEARING AID PROGRAM
    • POLICY AND ADVOCACY
    • LURIE CHILDREN’S PARTNERSHIP
  • ACCESS & INCLUSION
  • EVENTS
  • BLOGS
  • WAYS TO GIVE

Our Year of Access & Inclusion

Reading & Book Recommendations for Kids with Hearing Loss

FHSR has partnered with Maddie Hinkle from Chicago Hearing Society (CHS) to create a research-based curriculum on reading with deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children. The curriculum includes support for all communication modes and is designed to foster confidence in story-sharing and literacy development.
Our Education Coordinator, Anna Tess has assisted Maddie in conducting a series of workshops for Early Intervention (EI) professionals, and oversees the associated EARs book scholarship program. Workshops teach EI providers how to coach families to read with their DHH child(ren), meaning families are better equipped to share literature with their children and use books to create a language-rich environment within the home. 

The Importance of Reading with DHH Children and Early Literacy

  • “How do I read with my baby if they are deaf or hard of hearing?”
  • “How do I encourage my deaf or hard of hearing child to be interested in books?”
  • “How can I share stories with my deaf or hard of hearing child the way I can with my hearing child?”

These are common questions for families and the answers can be hard to find. Reading with a child contributes to increased vocabulary, language development, and print awareness. It also benefits child-caregiver relationships and leads to improved literacy skills. It is important to get an early start on reading with deaf or hard of hearing children and to encourage literacy skills from a young age.

What does it look like to read with a deaf or hard of hearing child?

The key is repetition.

The first time you read the book, focus on what is happening. Identify and label parts of the illustrations, explain what is happening on the page, and clearly state character motivations (example: “The pigeon is giving his ticket to the attendant – he really wants to ride that roller coaster!). Don’t be wrapped up in reading the text word-for-word. That first reading, the goal is to communicate the story and to pre teach any vocabulary or content that may be unfamiliar. 

The next time, add in more of the text. Point out repeated words or phrases and add in dialogue (“Do you have a ticket?” “Here’s my ticket!”). As you read more and more, your “reading” can get closer and closer to the text on the page until you are reading the story in a more traditional sense. Fortunately, kids love to read the same book a thousand times; use that to your advantage! Read in a way that ensures understanding while asking questions “Do you see how many birds are in line to ride the roller coaster?” and relating the text to the child’s personal experiences “Remember when we had to wait to ride the ride at the zoo – just like the pigeon has to wait to ride the roller coaster?”
As the story becomes familiar, pay more attention to what’s on the page. You can use props, roleplay, funny voices or personified signs, and family involvement to make reading engaging and foster an early love of literacy. 

This new curriculum provides resources to EI providers so they can support families. With this, we can contribute to a new generation of Deaf and Hard of Hearing readers and be better equipped to meet early language and early literacy milestones. 

This blog was written by Maddie Hinkle (she, her, hers). Youth and Family Connections Coordinator with the Chicago Hearing Society. CHS provides services, resources, and supports to Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing folks throughout the state of Illinois. Maddie has an MA from Gallaudet University in Deaf Studies: Early Language Advocacy. MHinkle@Anixter.org 

 

Reading List

All kids need to see themselves represented in the books they read.
It contributes to their confidence, identity development, and self-esteem. It also shows kids that they are important and that their stories are important, too.
Wondering what to read with your deaf or hard of hearing child this summer?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

This list contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, FHSR earns from qualifying purchases. Your purchase helps support FHSR’s programming!

 

Board Books

  • Nita’s Day (2020) by Kathy MacMillan

    This adorable board book is a great way to introduce infants and toddlers to American Sign Language. The tabs on the side pull out to show signs that follow along with the story and they’re fun, too! Join Nita and her parents through their daily routine and use the winning combination of interaction and visuals to engage your youngest readers.

  • Baby Loves the Five Senses: Hearing (2019) by Ruth Spiro
    This board book explores what sound is and how the ears work, while including explanations of hearing aids, cochlear implants, and sign language!

Picture Books

  • I’ve Never Sawn that Before!
    Nate’s imagination begins to run wild at bedtime, thinking about all of the things he’s never “sawn” (seen) before. A donut downpour, a dancing dinosaur, a sunken candy store and more! Dad comforts Nate easing his worries when he takes out his hearing aids at night in this creative and fun, rhyming read-aloud.  This bedtime story provides reassurance, kid-appealing illustrations, and experiences of a child with hearing loss. It normalizes our diverse hearing and language journeys.  There is also a page on “Tuck-in Tips” for parents to help children with (and without) hearing loss at bedtime.
  • Duke the Deaf Dog: Sometimes I Like the Quiet (2022) by Kelly Brakenhoff
    The Duke the Deaf Dog series of books explores being Deaf through Duke and his family. They use ASL to communicate with each other and the books come with access to signed storytelling and on-page pictures of ASL vocabulary. Sometimes I Like the Quiet discusses listening fatigue.
  • Can Bears Ski? (2022) by Raymond Antrobus Little Bear is confused- why does everyone keep asking them “can bears ski?” It isn’t until they take a trip to the audiologist that they realize that they have really been asking “can you hear me?” This book by a Deaf author shows the process of getting hearing aids in a playful way.

Elementary

  • She Heard Her Footsteps
    Lily is a bright, imaginative girl who’s always seen her world in vivid color.  When she receives her first pair of hearing aids, she discovers a symphony of sounds to match!  As she shares these wonders with loved ones, they learn to cherish life’s small, sparkling moments—laughter, music, and the beauty of listening with an open heart. This book will open up good conversations for families and friends of children who are navigating the world of new hearing aids
  • Emma Every Day: Friendship Goals (2021) by C.L. Reid
    Emma Every Day is a series of beginner chapter books about Emma, a Deaf girl with a cochlear implant, and her day-to-day life experiences with friends, family, and herself. The author, C.L. Reid, is DeafBlind and the books do a great job of showcasing Emma’s strengths while including her Deaf identity.
  • Joss (2019) by Erin Falligant
    Combine a love of dolls with a love of reading. Joss Kendrick was the American Girl Doll of the Year in 2019. She’s all about surfing until her brother dares her to try out fo rthe cheer team. Following the cheer routines is a little tough for Hard of Hearing Joss, but she isn’t backing down from the challenge.

Middle School

  • Hear Me (2022) by Kerry O’Malley Cerra
    As Rayne loses her hearing over time, she has to learn to navigate a whole new world. As her parents push for her to get a cochlear implant, she must face her own assumptions and find her footing.
  • Secrets of Camp Whatever (2021) by Chris Grine
    Willow, a Deaf 11-year-old, is not so excited about moving to a new town. She’s especially not excited about going to the creepy summer camp there. But then supernatural elements and mysterious creatures start appearing, she and some new friends will have to be brave to get to the bottom of it.

Teen Reads

  • Mooncakes (2019) by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu
    With a background of magic, werewolves, the supernatural, and baking, Tam and Nova must solve mysteries, including the mystery of their feelings for each other. Nova is Hard of Hearing, just like author Suzanne Walker, who used her experience to inform her characterization of Nova.
  • Haben (2020) by Haben Girm
    Meet Haben in this epic autobiography. Law school is tough enough on its own..add in Harvard, being a woman of color and DeafBlind, and Haben certainly had a lot of work ahead of her. Read how she broke down barriers and triumphed.

Want More Suggestions? Let us know and we will send you a list!

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A Sound Investment in Our Children

Facebook X-twitter Instagram Youtube Linkedin
  • ABOUT US
  • PARENT RESOURCES
    • NEXT STEPS AFTER A FAILED HEARING SCREENING
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • AGES AND STAGES
    • BIRTH TO AGE 3
    • PRE-K & KINDERGARTEN
    • 1st GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
    • BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL
  • EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
    • LITERACY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • MUSIC PROGRAMMING
    • MUSIC CLASSES & INSTRUMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
    • SCHOOL BASED MUSIC PROGRAMS
    • MUSIC THERAPY
  • CLINICAL & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
    • LOANER HEARING AID PROGRAM
    • POLICY AND ADVOCACY
  • EVENTS
  • BLOGS
  • WAYS TO GIVE
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT US
  • PARENT RESOURCES
    • NEXT STEPS AFTER A FAILED HEARING SCREENING
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • AGES AND STAGES
    • BIRTH TO AGE 3
    • PRE-K & KINDERGARTEN
    • 1st GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
    • BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL
  • EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
    • LITERACY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • MUSIC PROGRAMMING
    • MUSIC CLASSES & INSTRUMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
    • SCHOOL BASED MUSIC PROGRAMS
    • MUSIC THERAPY
  • CLINICAL & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
    • LOANER HEARING AID PROGRAM
    • POLICY AND ADVOCACY
  • EVENTS
  • BLOGS
  • WAYS TO GIVE
  • CONTACT

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