Making decisions for our children is difficult enough when they do not have a hearing loss. When a disability is thrown into the mix, making decisions becomes much more complicated.

At the time of diagnosis, most parents know little about hearing loss and the implications for their child. In fact, most of us are acutely aware of how little information we have to base our decisions upon. Sorting out what decisions need to be made immediately and which ones can wait is often difficult. Parents are put in the position of having to rely on others, primarily professionals, to help them make these decisions.

While professionals are most often knowledgeable and helpful, parents can benefit greatly from practical information from other parents. It is important for parents to know what their rights are, and to be presented with all of the options available before making a decision.

Parents also need to understand the importance of being flexible and realize that no decision is set in stone. Just as all children are different, no one mode of communication or educational placement is right for every child. Understanding this helps parents realize that changes may need to be made along the way, and that although they will not always know for certain that they have made the right decision at the time, there are other options that can be explored if need be.

Before we even have time to adjust to the idea that our child has a hearing loss, we find that there are many decisions to be made. We are often asked to make important decisions while still feeling very overwhelmed, and often have no idea what might be best for our child. It is important to remember that we make decisions based on the information we have at the time, and that most decisions do not need to be made immediately.

~"For us it helped to ask whether or not a particular decision had to be made immediately, and if so, why. More often than not, when we explained that we were unsure of what to do and that we felt like we needed a little more time to decide, professionals would tell us that it was not harmful to wait until we were sure. Knowing that we were having a hard time making a decision often prompted them to help us find more information or other individuals to talk to about our concerns."

~"When you feel overwhelmed with decisions, try to get all the information you can from as many sources as you can. Trust your ability to decide based on that information. Have faith in your knowledge of your child. Indecision is so much more difficult than deciding on something and moving in a positive direction."

~"When my son was identified as being profoundly deaf he was 11-months-old. I needed time to absorb this new thing that I was facing and gather information. I read a lot. I cried a lot. I talked to my Parent/Infant Specialist a lot. I tip-toed into decision making. I started learning sign language when my son was just over a year old. I remember telling my boss that I wish I had known Peter was deaf at an earlier age. She asked me why. 'So I could have started learning sign language earlier…umm…well, I don't know…It's just that I feel like a terrible mother because I didn't know something about my child!' But, during those 'wasted' eleven months, I was learning to be a mom, exploring the world through his eyes, meeting his every need. I had no experience with deafness, but I had eleven whole months of being a mom. I knew my child's every gurgle, every giggle. I knew I was Peter's mom."

~"Don't make any decision if you are being pressured by someone else to do so."

~"We are so much more fortunate now than parents as recently as 20 years ago in the fact that there are so many more resources available to us. However, throwing all those resources into the mix can make it even more confusing. Don't listen to just one person. To make really good decisions you must know all the options. Reading about these options and doing research is a fantastic way to start. More importantly, seek out other parents who have gone through the same thing. It may also help to talk to various deaf and hard of hearing adults and get feedback on the choices their parents made for them."

~"Take time to grieve and really come to terms with your child's hearing loss, and don't make decisions based on emotions. Listen to the advice of various people with different views…your doctors, specialists, therapists, teachers, educators, other parents. Read, get onto the Internet and do some of your own investigating. Educate yourself and get a good understanding of the options that are available for your child. Put it all together and think about it rationally so that you can make the best decision for your child based on what you think and feel, and from the information you have gathered and filtered through."

~"Ask a lot of questions. Ask specifically what decisions have to be made right now, and which ones can wait for awhile. Most of the time professionals are willing to wait if you are not completely comfortable with making a decision too quickly. There are very few decisions that need to be made immediately, and if you are being pressured by a professional, that might be an indication that you need to seek out others for advice. A good professional will understand that parents need time to adjust to the idea that their child has a hearing loss, and are willing to give you more time and information if needed."