Setting Goals for Your Child’s Listening and Talking Journey

After your child is identified with hearing loss, you may be asking “What’s next?” and “How can I support my child with hearing loss?”

The best place to begin is with your hopes and dreams for your child – they're the foundation for everything that comes next. Thinking about what you want for your little one’s future is the first step toward charting a clear, confident path forward.

Start by reflecting on what you want your child’s future to be like – the experiences, opportunities, and memories you hope they’ll have. Then, bring that vision to life by setting goals to help you stay motivated along the way. Download the Vision Board Worksheet to help guide your thinking and goal-setting.

Partner with Your Team

You are not alone on this journey – your early interventionist and professional team will be valuable partners in reaching your goals.

Share your vision, hopes, and dreams for your child’s future so they can help you take practical steps, learn new strategies, and get the tools and techniques you need to support your child’s listening and talking skills every day.

Clarify Your Vision: What Do I Want for My Child?

If you want your child to learn to listen and talk, it’s helpful to see what’s possible for children with hearing loss!

Every day, families like yours are showing what’s possible for children who are deaf or hard of hearing – talking, singing, playing sports, learning in school alongside their hearing friends, and preparing for life ahead.

Visit LSL Life to explore real stories of families teaching children with hearing loss to listen and talk. You’ll see children learning, listening, and thriving with Listening and Spoken Language (LSL).

Finding inspiration and seeing what’s possible can help you shape your own hopes and goals for your child – and remind you that your dreams are within reach.

Identify Your Learning Goals: What Do I Want to Learn More About?

Once you’ve outlined what you want for your child, think with your early interventionist about the skills and knowledge that will help you get there.

You may want to consider which topics you want to learn more about to be able to help your child with hearing loss reach their full potential. Here are a few ideas to spark your thinking:

• Creative ways to add more words to your child’s day to help grow their vocabulary
• Strategies to keep your child’s hearing devices on during all waking hours
• Tips for creating quiet spaces for listening and learning

Choose one or two topics to start with – First LSL Lessons is a great place to begin exploring and building your knowledge. Each step you take adds up to big progress over time.

Take Action: How Am I Going to Learn and Apply One Small Thing Each Day?

Turn your goals into daily habits that fit naturally into your routines. You could try:

• Using a song for different moments with your toddler – for playtime, cleanup, or transitions
• Turning daily routines (like mealtime or bath time) into opportunities for listening and talking
• Watching a YouTube video each week to learn a new Listening and Spoken Language tip

Celebrate Progress: Your Number One Goal

Above all, remember that progress – big or small – is worth celebrating.

Your number one goal might be as simple (and as meaningful) as: "Feeling proud of our listening and spoken language progress."

Ready to commit to your goals? Studies show that writing them down is a great way to set yourself up for success. Grab your Goal Setting and Vision Board Worksheet to get started.

Stay Connected: Share and Grow Together

Accountability and community are powerful parts of reaching your goals so don’t go it alone! Talk about your goals with your professional team, family members, and others in your support network and community.

Want to connect with other parents who understand this journey? Join the private Family Facebook Group to hear from thousands of other LSL families, share your goals, and find encouragement along the way.