Hearing Loss
There are four types of hearing loss:
- Conductive: caused by obstructions or diseases in the outer or middle ear that usually affect all frequencies of hearing.
- Sensorineural: results from damage to the inner ear. The loss ranges from mild to profound and affects certain frequencies more than others.
- Mixed: occurs in both the inner- and the outer or middle ear.
- Central: results from damage to the central nervous system
Hearing loss ranges from mild to profound. The distinctions between the terminology of “hard of hearing”, “deaf”, “deafened” are based on the individual’s preferred language (spoken or sign) rather than the degree of hearing loss. Hard of hearing or deafened individuals may use hearing aids, cochlear implants or other assistive listening devices.
Associations/Groups:
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Helps families, health care providers and education professionals understand childhood hearing loss and the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.
3417 Volta PL NW
Washington DC 20007
Phone: 202-337-5220
E-mail: info@agbell.org
Supports parent and family connections as well as child mentorship. We offer three programs for youth, including Bell Kids, Bell Teens and our newly established Bell Tots
Email: massagbell@gmail.com
American Tinnitus Association (ATA)
Provides education, advocacy, research and support for people with tinnitus
PO Box 424049, Washington, DC 20042
Toll Free: 800-634-8978
Email: tinnitus@ata.org
Association of Late Deafened Adults (ALDA)
Provides information, support, and social enrichment for all those with hearing loss.
8038 Macintosh Lane, Suite 2
Rockford, IL 61107
Phone: 815-200-9339 (Voice/TTY)
Contact: https://alda.org/Contact/
ALDA Regional Office & Boston Chapter (Region 1)
Email: RD1@alda.org
Hearing Industries Association
Mission is to inspire public and physicians about hearing loss
655 New York Ave. NW Floor 6 Washington DC 20001
Phone: 202-975-0905
Consumer Help Line: 800-327-9355.
Email: mail@betterhearing.org
Provides information about hearing loss, prevention, research, cure and public awareness
363 Seventh Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10001-3904
TTY: (888) 435-6104
Phone: 212-257-6140
Email: info@hhf.org
Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)
6116 Executive Boulevard
Suite 320
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: 301-657-2248
Contact Form: http://hlaa.convio.net/contactus
- Boston Chapter
Contact Form: https://www.hearinglossboston.org/contact-us/
- Central Massachusetts Chapter
Northborough Public Library
34 Main Street
Northborough, MA 01532-1942
Email: info@hearinglosscentralma.org
- Plymouth Chapter
Plymouth Public Library
Email: contact@hearinglossplymouth.org
Massachusetts Commission for Deaf & Hard of Hearing (MCDHH)
Offers free in-service or educational training to agencies , organizations and businesses about hearing loss.
Executive Office – Boston Area Office
600 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: 617-740-1600 or 617-740-1700 (TTY)
Toll Free: 800-882-1155 or 800-530-7570 (TTY)
Video Phone @ Front Desk: 617-326-7546
- Central Massachusetts Regional Office
167 Lyman Street
Westborough, MA 01581
Phone: 413-788-6427 Voice/TTY
Video Phone Case Management/General: 508-762-1124 - Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Office
61 Industrial Park Road
Plymouth, MA 02360
Toll Free: 800-882-1155 or 800-530-7570 (TTY) - Western Massachusetts Regional Office
436 Dwight Street, Suite 204
Springfield, MA 01103
Phone: 413-788-6427 Voice/TTY
Video Phone: 413-301-0915 - Berkshire Massachusetts Regional Office
160 North Street, Suite 201
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: 413-788-6427 Voice/TTY
Video Phone: 413-347-4094
The MCDHH Resource Directory (pdf) lists comprehensive up -to -date information on access, advocacy, arts and entertainment, cochlear implant information, consultants, cued speech, education (schools, college & university), financing hearing aids, health & medical, recreational, speech reading classes, and specialized group residential resources.
National Cued Speech Association (NCSA)
Cued Speech Discovery is the NCSA information services which answers questions about cued speech, local contacts of cuers in your area, learning opportunities, lists of research, legal, and educational resources. Lists comprehensive up-to-date information on access, advocacy, arts and entertainment, cochlear implant information, consultants, cued speech, education (schools, college & university), financing hearing aids, health and medical, recreational, speech reading classes, and specialized group residential resources.
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 190-713
Washington, DC 20004
Phone: 800-459-3529 (Voice/TTY)
Contact Form: http://www.cuedspeech.org/contact.php
National Association of the Deaf
The NAD is the nation’s premier civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America.
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 820
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3819
Voice/VP: 301-587-1788 (ZVRS)
Videophone: 301-328-1443 (Sorenson)
Videophone: 301-338-6380 (Convo)
TTY: 301-587-1789
Contact Form: http://www.nad.org/forms/contact-nad
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Information on deafness, hearing loss, balance, taste & smell, voice, speech and language.
What is American Sign Language
Phone: 800-241-1044
National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC)
The National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC) is a technical assistance and dissemination center funded by the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).
The University of Texas at Austin
1912 Speedway D4900
Austin TX 78712-1284
Phone: 512-436-0144
Email: help@nationaldeafcenter.org
Signing Exact English (S.E.E.) Center
The S.E.E. Center has information on services for Deaf children nationwide. In addition, questions about communication and deafness can be answered or referrals made to appropriate sources.
10443 Los Alamitos Blvd.
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
Phone: 562-430-1467
Email: seecenter@seecenter.org
Hearing Loss Association of America – Hearing Aid Financial Assistance
Information on Programs & Foundations that may help pay for hearing aids.
Massachusetts Equipment Distribution Program (MassEDP)
If you are a Massachusetts resident with a permanent disability that in the majority of circumstances limits your ability to use the telephone effectively you may be eligible to receive assistive telephone equipment/adaptive communication equipment at a reduced rate. Under the program, equipment is available to individuals who have cognitive, hearing, motion, speech or vision impairments. Call 800-300-5658 for application form.
View products and listing of vendors based on your location
See if you qualify
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – Employment Rights for Those with Hearing Impairments
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EOC) has issued a question and answer(Q&A) fact sheet on the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to job applicants who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Fact Sheet last updated on: 3/22/2023
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