Parent Support Groups

The clinic provides services for families with children ages 0 to 5 years who are hearing-impaired and live in Los Angeles County. Services include audiological examinations and hearing screening for children age five and younger, a special preschool for children age two through five, parent/infant program, parent support groups, a postsecondary (graduate) education program, and disease/disability information and public awareness/education about deafness and hearing impairments. Services are provided at two locations. Age restrictions apply for most services; there are no geographic restrictions.

The preschool provides instruction in and demonstration on language, auditory, speech, social, and cognitive development. Staff assist parents who have chosen the auditory-oral method to become competent and confident teachers of their children using their child's residual hearing, digital hearing aids and/or cochlear implants.

The Parent/Infant Program is for parents who have children 0 to 2 years of age who are deaf or hard of hearing. The program provides a demonstration home environment, Friday Family School and parent classes/support groups to educate, encourage, guide and support the parents in their raising of a child with a hearing loss.

A special graduate education program, in conjunction with Mount St. Mary's College, is available. The program may lead to a Master's Degree and Credential in Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing education. Also offered are on-site and online seminars and workshops for teachers and other professionals in the field of deaf education.

Supportive services include parental guidance and consultation services.

A distance education program for parents of children with hearing loss age five and younger is available for families without transportation or who live outside the area.