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Hearing Loss

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

Massachusetts A G Bell 

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: MAChapter@aric1.sg-host.com

American Tinnitus Association (ATA) 

Provides education, advocacy, research and support for people with tinnitus and ringing in the ears.
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

Better Hearing

Mission is to inspire public and doctors 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

Hearing Health Foundation 

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

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 & Regional Offices

  • 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

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 Resources

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: 8/19/2024

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