Sounds & Signs June 2025
The June 2025 edition of Sounds & Signs – the official newsletter of Aussie Deaf Kids – is now available. Read it online: Sounds & Signs – June 2025 Subscribe to Sounds & Signs
Information for researchers
Aussie Deaf Kids receives frequent requests from researchers to assist them in recruiting participants for their studies. We encourage parents and their children to participate in studies with ethics approval and seek to improve the lives of children with hearing loss and their families. If you would like Aussie Deaf Kids to assist in recruiting […]
Asking for help from family or friends
It’s okay to ask for help. The first few weeks or months after a hearing loss diagnosis can be challenging and overwhelming. Practical and emotional support from family and friends can make a big difference during this time. Here are some things you might ask for help with, or suggestions you can gently offer to […]
Research participation – Seeking individuals for auditory brain research
Seeking individuals for auditory brain research. The University of Melbourne are recruiting individuals who have been diagnosed with auditory neuropathy and/or hearing loss for a brain research study. This research study aims to develop ways to study the auditory system using state of the art magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques that have recently been developed […]
Research participation – Perspectives of caregivers who use augmentative and alternative communication systems (AAC) with DHH children
Are you the caregiver of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing and who uses an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system in Queensland? Researchers in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle are exploring how eligibility for AAC is assessed, and how systems are chosen and used with children who […]
Sounds & Signs May 2025
The May 2025 edition of Sounds & Signs – the official newsletter of Aussie Deaf Kids – is now available. Read it online: Sounds & Signs – May 2025 Subscribe to Sounds & Signs
Asking to join in
Making friends and joining in games can be tricky for any child. The good news is, with a bit of practice and support, children can learn simple ways to ask to be included. Here are some tips for helping your child join in: Teach simple phrases or signs: Help your child practice saying or signing […]
Sounds & Signs April 2025
The April 2025 edition of Sounds & Signs – the official newsletter of Aussie Deaf Kids – is now available. Read it online: Sounds & Signs – April 2025 Subscribe to Sounds & Signs
Research participation – Digital tool to help support future parents and caregivers of children with cochlear implants
Do you care for a child with a cochlear implant? The University of Melbourne invites you to participate in a research project exploring the views of parents and caregivers of children who received a cochlear implant at a young age (under 3 years old). The purpose of this research project is to ask parents and […]
Sounds & Signs March 2025
The March 2025 edition of Sounds & Signs – the official newsletter of Aussie Deaf Kids – is now available. Read it online: Sounds & Signs – March 2025 Subscribe to Sounds & Signs
NAPLAN adjustments & right to sit test
Did you know your child can have adjustments during NAPLAN to make the tests more accessible? These adjustments help students with disability — including those who are deaf or hard of hearing — have an equivalent learner experience and encourage maximum participation. What Parents Need to Know: Your child has the right to sit NAPLAN. […]
Helping a friend – printable flyer
We are pleased to unveil our new Helping a Friend printable flyer. This flyer offers helpful information and tips for the family and friends of a parent whose baby was recently diagnosed with hearing loss. It explains what support might be needed in the early days and provides a simple introduction to hearing loss. The […]
Hearing aids are not the same as glasses
Hearing aids and cochlear implants are not like glasses because they do not simply “correct” hearing in the way glasses correct vision. Here’s why… They don’t restore normal hearing: Glasses adjust the focus of light entering the eye, restoring clear vision for most people. Hearing aids and cochlear implants, however, amplify or process sound but […]
Research participation – ANCHOR (Australian National Child Hearing Health Outcomes Registry)
Invitation to take part in the ANCHOR: Outcomes Matter eDelphi Surveys. ANCHOR (Australian National Child Hearing Health Outcomes Registry) is a research project to develop the foundations of a national registry for deaf and hard of hearing children. The registry is a way of collecting information about child hearing. The aim of the ANCHOR: Outcomes […]
Sounds & Signs February 2025
The February 2025 edition of Sounds & Signs – the official newsletter of Aussie Deaf Kids – is now available. Read it online: Sounds & Signs – February 2025 Subscribe to Sounds & Signs
Congratulations to Jill Duncan on receiving your OAM!
Congratulations to Associate Professor Jill Duncan on being awarded an Order of Australia medal. Jill has been on the board of Aussie Deaf Kids since 2013 and has been advocating for children who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families her whole working life. She has been an amazing mentor and friend. We […]
Research participation – Hearing healthcare transition experiences for emerging adults with hearing loss
Invitation to Participate in Research: R U Ready? How young people who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing experience hearing healthcare changeovers. A team at the University of Queensland are exploring how young people who are deaf or hard of hearing move from childhood to adult hearing care. This is the first study in a series […]
Sounds & Signs December 2024
The December 2024 edition of Sounds & Signs – the official newsletter of Aussie Deaf Kids – is now available. Read it online: Sounds & Signs – December 2024 Subscribe to Sounds & Signs
Books for families
Check out our new Book page!! Parents in our community often ask for book recommendations that feature characters who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). They want stories that their children can relate to, as well as themes and topics related to deafness and hearing loss. To help parents, we have created a new […]
The importance of regular eye tests
Children who are deaf or hard of hearing may also have problems with their eyesight. Children who are deaf or hard of hearing need the best possible vision to access visual cues that support communication, such as sign language, facial expressions, and lip-reading. Eye tests with an optometrist or ophthalmologist before starting school—or sooner if […]