How to learn sign language
June 1, 2020
How hearing aids help Dustin communicate during COVID-19 pandemic
June 2, 20206 children’s books about hearing loss
Reading can help us feel connected to one another, which is especially important for someone dealing with tough situations, such as hearing loss.
Books that both adults and children can learn from and relate to can make a big impact on our lives, and even help encourage speech and listening development.
Here are some of our current favorite books about hearing loss.
“Bessie Needs Hearing Aids,” by Jenna Harmke
“Bessie Needs Hearing Aids,” is a story that a teenager wrote about her experiences with hearing loss. She wanted to help other deaf children by sharing her experiences with them. This book goes through the process of getting hearing aids as a child. It also encourages children to be proud and excited about their hearing technology.
Hello Holland, Beth Lepiholtz
Phonak “hEARo” Beth Leipholtz wrote “Hello, Holland: The Path to Embracing Your Child’s Hearing Loss” to document the journey of her family after their son, Cooper, was diagnosed with profound hearing loss. The story follows the first year of a hearing loss diagnosis — from navigating Deaf culture, to cycling through the stages of grief, to pursuing cochlear implant surgery.
Hello, Holland strives to portray the raw, emotion-filled parts of the journey while also bringing light to all the beautiful silver linings along the way.
“Ranvir Cannot Hear,” by Genevieve Yusuf
This story takes place in India and is about a little hard of hearing elephant that goes on an adventure to look for his hearing. While he is traveling he meets new friends. They help Ranvir find his special talent and understand all that he can do.
This book includes British and American sign language alphabets.
Bonus! Each time this book is purchased 10 percent goes to the Rangammal School in India for children with hearing loss.
“Freddie and the Fairy,” by Julia Donaldson and Karen George
Bessie-Belle is a fairy who Freddie rescues from being stuck in a tree. To repay him for his help, Bessie-Belle offers to grant him some wishes. Freddie wishes for all sorts of different pets, but because Bessie-belle wears a hearing aid and can’t hear very well she mishears Freddie and keeps getting his wishes wrong.
This story is aimed at both deaf children as well as hearing children. It is all about deaf awareness and how talking directly to a deaf person can help them to understand you and not get things wrong.
“I Can’t Hear Like You,” by Althea
My lovely little niece actually introduced me to this book after picking it out at her school library! “I Can’t Hear Like You” is all about a boy named Tom who wears hearing aids. He introduces us to his life and school and how being deaf impacts his play. It also includes signed text in the British Sign Language alphabet.
Read more: How I am teaching my deaf baby sign language
“Intsy Bitsy Spider,” by Annie Kubler
This is part of the Sign and Singalong series and is a really fun song to learn the signs for. I think it’s great for both hearing and deaf children to learn this classic nursery rhyme with the signs alongside.
