This text is intended for professionals in medical, educational, health and social work fields who come into contact with deaf children and their families. Many of the issues raised also have implications for professionals working with parents of children with other forms of disability. The book illustrates the need for change in some professional practice and focuses on those areas where change may be effected. It covers the impact of deafness, parental reactions to diagnosis, attitudes of professionals and their affect on the communication, education and integration of deaf children, and emotional implications in terms of stigma, self-esteem and socialization. The need for a multidisciplinary approach is emphasized, with greater co-operation and teamwork between the many different professionals working in this field, along with the concept of parents as partners in the care of deaf children.