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EnglishWhat Can I Find in the AG Bell Hearing Loss Resource Library?
Updated
The AG Bell Hearing Loss Resource Library is the section of agbell.org that gathers hearing-loss information for families, students, and professionals in one place. It is the right starting point if you have questions about your child's hearing journey and want background reading before you contact a person. It is not a searchable medical database or a substitute for advice from your child's audiologist or early intervention team.
Who the library is built for
AG Bell organizes its site around distinct audiences, and the Resource Library sits inside that structure. You will get the most out of it depending on which group you belong to:
| If you are… | What the library is useful for |
|---|---|
| A parent or caregiver | Understanding communication options and what to expect after a diagnosis |
| A student who is deaf or hard of hearing | Pointers to student resources and networks |
| A professional | Research references, conference materials, and continuing education context |
The site's own framing is that families should not have to figure out hearing loss alone — the library is one part of that "village," alongside parent support and events.
What the library covers
Based on how AG Bell structures its content, expect these categories:
- Getting-started material for families. The site asks "How will my child communicate?" and states plainly that there is no single way for a child to learn to communicate. The library is where that range of options is explained rather than prescribed.
- Hearing loss research and bibliography. AG Bell maintains a research bibliography, which is the closest thing on the site to an academic reference list.
- Conference and symposium material. Symposium and Fall Forum pages carry schedules, on-demand sessions, FAQs, and CEU information. These are useful if you want current thinking from professionals rather than introductory explanations.
- Volta Voices. AG Bell's publication, listed under the professionals section, is another written source you can browse.
How to actually use it
- Start from your role, not from a search box. Pick Families, Students, or Professionals first. The same topic is framed differently for each group.
- Read the overview pages before the reference material. "Getting Started" and "Parent Support" answer the questions most families ask first; the bibliography is for when you want sources behind a claim.
- Use the library to prepare questions, then talk to a person. AG Bell runs a Parent Support Line at 1-202-204-4680 and [email protected], described as "talk to a parent who's been there." The library gives you vocabulary; the support line gives you someone who has lived it.
- Check the events pages for time-sensitive content. Symposium and Fall Forum material changes year to year, so confirm dates and availability rather than assuming a session is still current.
What to expect and what not to
The site's message is deliberately broad: "A life without limits for children with hearing loss," and a parent testimonial describes a son diagnosed with profound hearing loss as an infant who later graduated from college and is professionally employed. Treat that as one family's account, not a prediction for your child.
Two practical limits:
- The library is a starting point, not a diagnosis tool. Nothing there replaces an evaluation by your own clinical team.
- Some parts of AG Bell require joining. Membership, events, and subscribing to updates appear throughout the navigation, so assume that full participation in the community — not necessarily reading the library — may involve signing up.
If your first question is "what do I do this week," go to Getting Started and the Parent Support Line. If your question is "what does the evidence say," go to the research bibliography and symposium material.