The Deaf Baby Instruction Manual is a modern parenting guide for hearing families with deaf and hard of hearing children, with five sections, covering developmental basics, day-to-day caregiving, family dynamics, medical and educational topics, and self care. It will be published April 2026 by Bloomsbury Academic, and is available now for pre-order.
Raising a dhh child isn’t hard, but you can’t wing it. There are specific do’s and don’ts that families need to know and that they aren’t teaching in early intervention. This is reflected in poor academic performance, and troubling employment and mental heath statistics for deaf adults from hearing families, despite advances in technology and accessibility.
Fortunately, there are proven methods to support deaf and hard of hearing children that Deaf parents and educators have known about for decades, and which have been confirmed by modern research. The book takes a step-by-step approach to teaching these Deaf-approved, research-supported practices, breaking down complex topics into straightforward chapters and FAQs while addressing difficult issues with honesty and humor.
There are a lot of practical challenges when your kid is deaf or hard of hearing, but ultimately, our children are not problems to be solved; they’re little people to be played with, cared for, and adored.
a sample of what’s inside:
basics
- the difference between speech (optional) and language (mandatory)
- supporting your child’s cognitive development and preventing language deprivation syndrome
- learning American Sign Language and bilingualizing your family
- getting started with early intervention, Deaf mentors, and other services
childcare
- setting up your home for a visual kid
- how (and why) to read to a deaf baby
- sleep training and potty training tips
- how to lose hearing devices anywhere – at the playground, on the beach, in the woods…
family dynamics
- including your child in everyday family communication and avoiding dinner table syndrome
- managing sibling relationships and balancing your time and attention between kids with different needs
- dealing with ableist family members, on a scale from zero to no contact
- finding dhh peers and role models who reflect your family’s heritage
education
- the history of deaf education in the US, with secret supervillain cameo
- understanding IDEA and surviving your IFSP and IEP meetings
- dealing with bad professionals, including tips for disposing of the body
- understanding deaf educational systems and choosing appropriate schools and care options
medical concerns
- common causes of deafness and their medical implications
- identifying deaf-savvy doctors and therapists
- understanding hearing tests and decoding the speech banana
- understanding hearing prosthetics: cochlear implants, hearing aids, BAHAs and beyond
self care
- conflict management and maintenance sex for stressed-out parents
- finding parent peers for support and Deaf parents for chill vibes
- snappy answers to stupid questions from strangers on the playground
…and much more.
order now for your favorite deaf baby and their family
The Deaf Baby Instruction Manual will be published April 2026 and is available now for pre-order.
To get updates on availability, subscribe to my newsletter or check “I want to buy it” on my contact form.
For professional inquiries, please contact Jen Nadol at the Unter Agency.