“Self-advocacy means understanding and seeking support for one’s personal rights”.¹ Teens and young adults who are deaf or hard of hearing may have difficulty with self-advocacy for a variety of reasons. One of the main reasons is that people with hearing loss are at a disadvantage because of communication barriers related to not being able to hear. If a person has difficulty listening, he or she may be apprehensive to bring up difficulties to people that they do not know. If a teen or young adult uses sign language to communicate, they may be in situations where the other person does not know sign language and an interpreter is not available. People with hearing loss may also exhibit anxiety in social situations due to a difficulty or inability to “overhear” conversations. Literature in developmental psychology tells us that about 90% of what very young children learn about the wodd they learn incidentally. “Incidental learning is not just about knowledge, it is about overhearing to facilitate social/cognitive development.”²

As professionals working with teens/young adults with hearing loss, we must understand the struggles associated with hearing loss. Social/emotional problems, lower reading and writing skills, frustration and anger related to communication barriers, social isolation, and increased self-consciousness are all issues that may develop. If a teen or young adult is dealing with any or all of these problems, the ability to advocate for oneself is compromised. If the person is not able to work through these issues on their own, professionals should recommend that the person see a counselor, or other mental health professional, in order to promote healthy social/emotional development.

Once a person has a relatively healthy acceptance of his/her hearing loss, the basic foundation for beginning self-advocacy is in place. With some essential tools and support, the foundation can grow so that teens and young adults are informed and confident about taking care of their communication accommodations. There are several tools in this program to assist with this process. Information about a few of them is found by clicking on the topics below.

 ¹ English.K. (1997). Self-Advocacy for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Austin, Texas: Pro-Ed.

 ²Flexer C. (2009, May). Theory of Mind Development in Children with Hearing Loss. Presentation at Building Bridges Conference. Cincinnati, OH.

 Click each link for more information:

                • GAP Personal Profile and Accommodations Letter

                • Self-Advocacy Competency Guide

                • Keys to Success