ABSTRACT
A hearing loss of any type or degree can negatively impact the quantity as well as the quality of communication between individuals. The most debilitating effect occurs when a baby is born with a sensorineural hearing loss. Interactions between the baby and signifi cant others are obstructed. The interference generally occurs because 95% of children with a hearing loss are born into hearing families who have little or no experience interacting with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing (Mitchell & Karchmer, 2004). Specifi cally, most family members have grown up in our sound-oriented society and are used to communicating, mediating, and soothing babies, infants, and toddlers by talking, making noises, singing songs, or reading books to them. Other than making silly faces, family members have no experience or knowledge of how to communicate with the baby without using their voice.
