Centering Lived Experience: Inclusive Pediatric Care for Children Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Their Families

The diversity of experiences of children and individuals who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) is broad. Nearly 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 children in the United States, and globally up to 20 out of every 1,000 children, are born DHH, with increasing prevalence as children grow. With proper support that centers early language access, positive identity development, and learning from individuals with lived experience-either as caregivers or as adults who are DHH-all children who are DHH can thrive. Due to the varied needs and backgrounds of children who are DHH, individualized, family-centered, and culturally informed care is essential. In order to best support children who are DHH and their families, primary care clinicians must provide care that is informed by specialists, parents, and individuals with lived experience to ensure children who are DHH are equipped with the resources and interventions necessary to reach their full potential.