Social anxiety
Social anxiety is common for young people with hearing loss, often because social situations take more effort and can feel unpredictable. Your child may worry about missing what others say, feeling different, or making a mistake in a fast-moving conversation. Here are some tips for managing social anxiety: Acknowledge their feelings. Let them know it’s […]
Sounds & Signs December 2025
The December 2025 edition of Sounds & Signs – the official newsletter of Aussie Deaf Kids – is now available. Read it online: Sounds & Signs – December 2025 Subscribe to Sounds & Signs
Deaf-friendly morning routines
Mornings can be busy. Visual cues, simple signs and predictable routines help deaf children feel calm, informed and ready for the day. Here are some tips to make mornings run more smoothly: Create a visual morning checklist: Use photos or symbols for each step, such as getting dressed, breakfast, brushing teeth and packing the school […]
Sounds & Signs November 2025
The November 2025 edition of Sounds & Signs – the official newsletter of Aussie Deaf Kids – is now available. Read it online: Sounds & Signs – November 2025 Subscribe to Sounds & Signs
New fact sheet – Communicating with your baby
Communicating with your baby – a fact sheet for parents of babies with hearing loss This fact sheet shares ideas for interacting with your baby and creating opportunities to communicate every day. The fact sheet is based on our website page “Communicating with your baby”, and presented in a printable pdf format. Communication between […]
Supporting deaf children with additional needs
Studies indicate that up to 40% of children with a hearing loss also have additional needs. This could include vision loss, autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, learning difficulties and anxiety. When this happens, it can add complexity, but with the right support, these children can thrive at home and school. What parents can do: Trust your […]
Research participation – Does your child wear hearing devices?
Childhood Listening and Environmental Acoustics in Real-life (CLEAR) Study – National Acoustics Laboratories (NAL) About the study: National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL), the research division of Hearing Australia, is inviting families to help them explore how young children (0-6 years old) who are deaf or hard of hearing. Your voices will help shape a new tool […]
Flowers Across supports Aussie Deaf Kids this November!
We’re delighted that Flowers Across has chosen Aussie Deaf Kids as their charity partner for the month of November through their wonderful Givr program – an initiative that helps raise funds for local non-profits. Throughout November, Flowers Across will donate 10% of sales from their beautiful True Delight bouquet to Aussie Deaf Kids. If you’re […]
Sounds & Signs October 2025
The October 2025 edition of Sounds & Signs – the official newsletter of Aussie Deaf Kids – is now available. Read it online: Sounds & Signs – October 2025 Subscribe to Sounds & Signs
Deaf Space Report – Available Now
Deaf Connect is proud to share a landmark report titled ‘Deaf Space,’ that they commissioned by Deaf Space Consultant, Amanda Everitt. The report draws on lived experiences from Deaf community members, industry leaders, First Nations Deaf contributors, and international experts. Their stories and ideas outline a roadmap for a more inclusive Australia where Deaf accessibility […]
Choosing and starting childcare
A quality childcare or preschool experience supports children’s learning, social skills, confidence, and wellbeing. It also gives parents valuable time for work, appointments, and self-care. What to look for Look for services where your child will feel safe, happy, respected, and valued. When choosing a service, consider the physical environment, staff, and approach to inclusion, including: […]
Sounds & Signs September 2025
The September 2025 edition of Sounds & Signs – the official newsletter of Aussie Deaf Kids – is now available. Read it online: Sounds & Signs – September 2025 Subscribe to Sounds & Signs
Research participation – Enabling remote screening of childhood hearing loss using AI
Chatterbugs Study – National Acoustics Laboratories (NAL) About the study: We’re using a fun smart phone App to collect speech samples from around 1000 children (aged 2½ to 3½) with and without hearing loss. The goal is to develop an AI-powered convenient app, parents and caregiver can use at home to screen for hearing loss in young children […]
Research participation – Help us improve hearing care for babies
Paediatric Hearing Study at National Acoustics Laboratories (NAL) What is the study about? Our goal is to ensure babies hear well in their first year to support age-appropriate speech and language development. We are developing clinical tests to measure how accurately children track speech during conversations including voice. Unlike current availabletests, this will indicate a […]
Cheerleaders, not taskmasters!
Early intervention making you feel exhausted and guilty? It’s a common and understandable experience, but it’s not how family-centred early intervention should feel. Professionals should NOT make you feel guilty Professionals should NOT be judging your parenting Professionals should work WITH you Professionals should be your cheerleaders! “Parenting is hard, and parents have enough obligations and […]
Sounds & Signs August 2025
The August 2025 edition of Sounds & Signs – the official newsletter of Aussie Deaf Kids – is now available. Read it online: Sounds & Signs – August 2025 Subscribe to Sounds & Signs
Mild hearing loss – next steps
Mild hearing loss means it might be harder for your child to hear soft sounds and understand speech in noisy environments. Voices may sound unclear, and some children may take longer to develop speech and language skills. Here are some helpful steps you can take: Talk with your audiologist: They’ll explain what your child’s hearing […]
Late diagnosis story
Jane, our Information Coordinator, shares her personal experience of her daughter’s late diagnosis and the timely support they received. Disclaimer: This interview was filmed in 2020 before Jane started working at Aussie Deaf Kids. Watch video here: Late diagnosis story
Getting your deaf child’s attention
One of the everyday challenges families face is getting the attention of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. Simply calling their name may not work, especially in busy or noisy environments. Here are some tips: Tap gently: If you’re close, softly tap your child on the shoulder or arm to get their […]
Sounds & Signs July 2025
The July 2025 edition of Sounds & Signs – the official newsletter of Aussie Deaf Kids – is now available. Read it online: Sounds & Signs – July 2025 Subscribe to Sounds & Signs