Hearing Impaired families: The social ecology of hearing loss

The services available to parents of children with hearing losses, and the options concerning the modes of communication and the educational programs for their children, have significant effects on family relations and the familyʹs understanding of hearing impairment and deafness. This is particularly true in rural areas of British Columbia, Canada, where the range of programs is limited. This paper examines the programs available, parentsʹ understandings of their options, the decisions they make, and the impact on the family of the selection and availability of programs.