Deaf and hard of hearing

• An audiologist tests your hearing and fits hearing aids and implant processors.
• Over-the-counter hearing aids are for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. Prescription hearing aids are for any degree of loss and for children.
• Cochlear implants can help people with moderate to profound loss who get limited benefit from hearing aids.

American Sign Language is a full language with its own grammar. Deaf communities share language, culture, schools, and events. Whether to sign, speak, use hearing technology, or all of these is a personal and family choice, and many people do more than one.

• Learn ASL: community colleges, Deaf service centers, and online classes taught by Deaf instructors.
• Deaf service centers offer advocacy, interpreting, classes, and community events.
• Families of Deaf children: see Babies, children, and school.

You have the right to a qualified interpreter or live captions (CART) at medical visits, in court, at school, and in many other places, at no cost to you.

• Relay services are free: dial 711 for text relay, use video relay to call in ASL, or use a free captioned phone.
• Free equipment: most states give amplified and captioned phones and alerting devices through a telephone equipment distribution program.
• Alerts at home: smoke alarms with strobes or bed shakers, video doorbells, and flashing or vibrating alarms. See Emergencies.