Help shape NAL’s future research
HURRY, this survey closes 2nd October!This is an opportunity to shape what research National Acoustics Laboratory (NAL) does around children and families over the next few years and we encourage parents to have their say.Researchers at the National Acoustic Laboratories are planning the next phase of a long-term Australian study involving children, adolescents and young […]
A personal reflection
This year marked my final trip to Bad Ischl, Austria, for the FCEI Conference. Since attending my first conference in 2012, each one has been a truly life-changing experience. I have had the privilege of meeting so many remarkable people—parents, researchers and professionals—who have inspired me, challenged my thinking and become lifelong friends and mentors. […]
Thank you, Andrew Stewart
After more than 40 years supporting people who are deaf or hard of hearing, Andrew Stewart has announced his retirement. Andrew has been a valued friend of Aussie Deaf Kids for more than 20 years. Throughout that time, he has generously shared his expertise and lived experience, helping countless families navigate hearing technology with practical […]
Five Smartphone Features Every Parent Should Know About
One of the most practical presentations at the 2026 FCEI Conference came from Dr Tina Childress, an audiologist who is also a cochlear implant user. She demonstrated that many of the communication tools families need are already built into iPhones and Android phones—and they’re free. Whether you’re at school, in the car, at the dinner […]
From lived experience to global policy, research and practice
When parents’ lived experiences are recognised as knowledge, research becomes more meaningful and impactful. We’re pleased to share a newly published journal article in Deafness & Education International highlighting research initiated by the Global Coalition of Parents of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children (GPODHH). This work reflects a strong commitment to recognising the knowledge […]
Celebrating 25 years of Aussie Deaf Kids
25 years ago, a mum with a deaf child, started a small online group to connect and support parents raising children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Thank you for being part of our story!
Bimodal Bilingual Development Scale
We are enormously grateful to Dr Elizabeth Levesque for sharing the Bimodal Bilingual Development Scale she developed as part of her research into the bilingual acquisition of English and Auslan (Australian Sign Language) by young deaf children. Download the PDF and explore how English and Auslan and pragmatic language skills develop in young deaf children. […]
Ear wax management and ear health
Taking care of your child’s ears is an important part of maintaining their hearing health. Here are some practical tips to help keep their ears clean and healthy: What to do: Let the ears clean themselves: Ears are self-cleaning. Wax naturally moves out of the ear canal on its own. Wipe the outer ear: Use […]
New Sound Waves Booklet now available!
We are excited to announce that the Third edition of Sound Waves – Information for families on unilateral hearing loss is now available on our website. The booklet has five sections and is also available for download: Section 1: Understanding unilateral hearing loss Section 2: The early days Section 3: Speech & language Section 4: […]
Join our Board of Directors: Make a lasting impact with Aussie Deaf Kids
We are looking for a passionate and experienced individual to join our Board of Directors. This is an exceptional opportunity to lend your expertise to making a meaningful difference in the lives of Australian families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. As a Board Member, you will play a key role in […]
Changes for ADK Facebook group
A letter to members of the Aussie Deaf Kids Unilateral Hearing Loss Group In our ongoing commitment to provide you with the best possible online community experience for families with children who have unilateral hearing loss, we are announcing a change in our approach to better serve your needs and interests. Although Facebook does not […]
Sleep: Strategies to support sleep for children with sensory disability
NextSense Institute Sleep problems in young deaf children is a frequent topic in the Aussie Deaf Kids online groups. It can be difficult to know whether the issue is a ‘deaf thing’ or a ‘child thing’. NextSense Institute has the recording of a webinar on sleep which is available to watch whenever it suits you! […]
Research participation – How well can your baby hear you?
Using brain waves to assess language abilities in infants and young children with hearing loss The National Acoustics Laboratories is recruiting participants for the above study which seeks to develop and optimise clinical tests to evaluate whether children with hearing loss can hear speech with and without hearing aids. Researchers are currently seeking children under […]
Participate in research
Parent and Professionals’ Perspectives of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems for D/deaf Children with Complex Communication Needs Are you the caregiver of a child, who is deaf or hard of hearing is enrolled in a primary special school lives in Queensland, and uses Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems? You may be interested in participating […]
Position Paper on the Right to Sign Language for Families of Deaf Children
The World Federation of the Deaf recently released their Position Paper on the Right to Sign Language for Families of Deaf Children. The Position Paper provides five recommendations for governments – all helpful for ongoing advocacy for Auslan services for children and families who chose a multi-lingual sign language pathway : Recommendation 1: Recognise that […]
First name Amelia
In the months following Amelia’s diagnosis of hearing loss, I picked up a strange habit when introducing her to people we met in our daily travels. Like an involuntary verbal tic, I would call her ‘deaf’ before I said her name or anything else about her. This new tendency was the result of many obsessive […]
Enjoy music
Singing, dancing and banging out a noisy rhythm are part of the joy of childhood. Children who are deaf or hard of hearing can enjoy and benefit from music too! Research at Macquarie University has found that music has therapeutic benefits for children with hearing loss. Music training can improve communication skills, regulate emotions and […]
Fun pragmatics
Pragmatics is the way in which we use language in different social situations. It’s important for taking part in conversations and interactions in socially acceptable ways. Most children develop pragmatics skills during their early years by being exposed to language around them and engaging socially with others. However, it can be more challenging for our […]
Don’t say “Don’t worry”
As parents, we can be guilty of saying, “Don’t worry”, when our kids with hearing loss say, “Pardon?”. We may say it because we are actually talking to someone else or we have answered our own question by the time our child responds. You may not realise it, but our kids get this a lot, […]
Deafness is NOT a learning disability
Some people have the misconception that deafness is a learning disability. It is not! However, without the right support, children who are deaf or hard of hearing can fall behind their hearing peers. That is why early diagnosis and intervention are crucial to giving your child timely access to language, whether signing, spoken or both! […]