Deaf and Hearing Families

Families who are “deaf and hearing” are a diverse subset of families who are like other families yet share unique characteristics that set them apart from families in which everyone can hear. A deaf and hearing family is one in which one or more family members are deaf or hard of hearing. The family systems model and the ecological systems framework are useful models for understanding how the dynamics and experiences of families are influenced not only by all individual family members and their interactions with each other, but also by the experiences, institutions, and even the policies that affect their lives and the paths they choose. A life-span perspective is helpful for families as they pursue quality-of-life issues and developmental transitions.