When you read to your baby every day, you grow their brain for listening, language, and learning. Learning to listen and talk has a direct connection with childhood literacy.

What does literacy mean? Literacy is the ability to communicate through written words. But it’s a lot more than just reading and writing. It also means being good at math, having technology skills, and being able to solve problems.

Think of Reading as the Building Block to Learning

From preschool through second grade, children are learning to read. Beginning in third grade, children make a shift and start reading to learn. It’s important your child with hearing loss is able to read at grade level by third grade. You can help make that happen by making reading a part of your child’s everyday routine.

A dad reads aloud with his daughter who is deaf and wearing a heading device.

Read to Your Baby Every Day

Literacy skills start in the cradle, not the classroom. Begin sharing books with your newborn as soon as possible. It may seem too early to start reading, but it’ll help their brain develop.

Sharing books every day with your child who is deaf or hard of hearing will help them learn to listen and talk. It’ll also help them become strong readers. Long before your child will memorize their ABCs, the early experiences they have with books and reading help build connections in their brain.

In Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) intervention, you’ll learn what steps to take and understand more about the connection between hearing and literacy.

A little baby with hearing aids hold a book as his parents read aloud to him.
Close

Take a Tour: NaN

Take the quick NaN tour now!

Close
Tip 1 of 7

NaN Tour