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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
Fax: 202-337-8314
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: 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
Fax: 503-248-0024
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
Fax: 202-216-9646
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 Blvd.
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)
617-326-7546 Video Phone @ Front Desk
Fax: 617-740-1810
Regional Offices

  • Central Massachusetts Regional Office
    167 Lyman Street
    Westborough, MA 01581
    413-788-6427 Voice/TTY
    508-762-1124 Video Phone Case Management/General
    508-616-3594 Fax – Send Fax with Cover Sheet – Attn: MCDHH/Interpreter Referral
  • Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Office
    61 Industrial Park Road
    Plymouth, MA 02360
    Toll Free: 800-882-1155 or 800-530-7570 (TTY)
    Fax: 508-830-9433 Send Fax with Cover Sheet – Attn: MCDHH
  • Western Massachusetts Regional Office
    436 Dwight Street, Suite 204
    Springfield, MA 01103
    413-788-6427 Voice/TTY
    413-301-0915 Video Phone
    413-731-5177 Fax
  • Berkshire Massachusetts Regional Office
    160 North Street, Suite 201
    Pittsfield, MA 01201
    413-788-6427 Voice/TTY
    413-347-4094 Video Phone
    413-448-2466 Fax – Send Fax with Cover Sheet – Attn: MCDHH

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 us 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)
301-328-1443 (Sorenson)
301-338-6380 (Convo)
TTY: 301-587-1789
Fax: 301-587-1791
Contact Form: http://www.nad.org/forms/contact-nad

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: 10/14/2021

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