Language and communication of deaf and hard of hearing children: SLP roles, per ASHA
ASHA’s Practice Portal says SLPs “play a central role in the screening, assessment, and provision of speech, language, literacy, and cognitive-communication services for children who are identified as DHH.” This page quotes ASHA’s SLP roles only and does not cover audiology.
Quoted from official pages checked November 12, 2026. Confirm current information on those sites. This page is not medical advice and does not describe any patient’s care.
Source read on November 12, 2026: ASHA’s Practice Portal page Language and Communication of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children.
ASHA’s Practice Portal pages are written for clinicians. Quotes below stop before ASHA’s in-text research citations.
Scope
ASHA says the page covers children from birth to 18 who are born deaf or hard of hearing or acquire hearing loss later in childhood, and focuses on language and communication after the initial audiologic assessment (paraphrased). It states: “Children who are identified as deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) are diverse.” ASHA adds that DHH children use various languages, communication tools, systems, and technologies (paraphrased).
Roles for SLPs
- “Understand that hearing loss may impact access to spoken language.”
- “Provide comprehensive, culturally and linguistically appropriate evaluation of speech, language, cognitive, social, and/or other communication skills.”
- “Provide services using appropriate languages and communication systems, depending on the child’s needs, and collaborating with interpreters when necessary.”
- “Establish AAC techniques and strategies including developing, selecting, and recommending systems and devices, when indicated.”
- “Create and implement an individualized aural (re)habilitation plan of care.”
- “Perform routine visual inspection and listening checks of hearing technologies for purposes of troubleshooting.”
ASHA also lists audiologist roles on the same page; they are not repeated here.
What this page does not do
It does not cover hearing testing, hearing devices, or audiology roles. It is not medical advice and does not recommend any treatment, device, or product. Scope of practice is set by state law; check your state board.