Add this list of page-turners for all ages to your summer reading list.
Books are a wonderful way to dive into another world of reality or fiction. And specifically, books about hearing loss offer readers of all ages the chance to meet characters who may share their experiences and offer new perspectives. While at the beach or relaxing in a hammock this summer, the whole family can kick back with these eight books that explore hearing loss:
- A Birthday for Ben (children)
- Cosmo Gets an Ear (children)
- Rally Caps (adolescent)
- Connor Westphal Book Series (young adult)
- Five Flavors of Dumb (young adult)
- The Way I Hear It: A Life with Hearing Loss (adult)
- Not Fade Away (adult)
- Song Without Words (adult)
Learn more about these informational and heartwarming books about hearing loss below.
A Birthday for Ben (children)
It’s Ben’s seventh birthday, but he doesn’t want a party because he’s worried about being left out of the games because of hearing loss. When his friends band together to help, Ben has a birthday to remember. This book is all about inclusivity and understanding. It’s a great read for friends of children with hearing loss, as it is written in a way that helps kids understand hearing-related issues.
Cosmo Gets an Ear (children)
For children who have hearing aids or are getting them, Cosmo may be a relatable character. Over the course of the story, Cosmo gains confidence as he gets to know and enjoy his new hearing aids. This book has an interactive component where children will guess what happens next throughout the story. Reviews from parents recommended reading it aloud together.
Rally Caps (adolescent)
Sports-loving tweens will enjoy this baseball-themed story about perseverance and friendship. Ten-year-old Jordan, who was injured in an accident, and Luca, a deaf boy with a cochlear implant, overcome challenges together and learn about life.
Connor Westphal Book Series (young adult)
Mystery-loving teens will appreciate this series featuring a deaf journalist and the various cases she’s trying to solve. She uses her sharp non-hearing senses to follow the clues and catch the criminals.
Five Flavors of Dumb (young adult)
This book shows that you can do just about anything with hearing loss—even manage a band whose music you can’t hear. In the case of teenage main character Piper, it’s her high school’s popular rock band Dumb, with five unique and challenging members. It’s a story about confidence, humor, and self-discovery.
The Way I Hear It: A Life with Hearing Loss (adult)
Gael Hannan weaves together her personal stories with practical strategies to help others living with hearing loss. From marriage and children to jobs to dining out and going to the movies, she shares daily frustrations mixed with hope and humor.
To learn more about Gael, check out our blog post Profile of a Comedian with Hearing Loss.
Not Fade Away (adult)
Not Fade Away: A Memoir of Senses Lost and Found is the story of author Rebecca Alexander. Since she was a child, Alexander has slowly been losing her sight and hearing due to Usher syndrome III, a genetic mutation. But something the disease didn’t take was her energy, ambition, humor, and zest for life, which you’ll see as you read about her experiences.
Rebecca was also the opening keynote speaker at the 2019 Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) Convention. Get the recap of this year’s HLAA event here.
Song Without Words (adult)
Imagine going through life for 34 years before discovering that you’ve had profound hearing loss since childhood. That’s exactly what happened to Ivy League graduate and lawyer Gerald Shea in Song Without Words: Discovering My Deafness Halfway Through Life. He assumed his difficulties were typical and found ways to adapt, navigate the world, and launch a successful career. Along with his own story, he talks about determination, communication, and issues that affect those in the Deaf community.
Which books about hearing loss will you be putting on your reading list? For more entertainment, check out these movies and TV shows featuring characters with hearing loss.
To learn how a CapTel captioned telephone can help you catch every word over the phone, visit our website or call 800.233.9130 today.
