Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services

The mission of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services of Lancaster County is to enhance the quality of life and encourage independence for those who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing. We: * Provide American Sign Language interpreting services, including tactile interpreting for the deaf-blind; * Offer Case Management Services for deaf and hard-of-hearing people; * Through licensed audiologists DHHS provides Clinical Audiology Services, including diagnostic hearing evaluation,hearing aid dispensing, and specialized hearing tests, such as auditory processing and discrimination tests; * Distribute information, both written and through seminars, on many subjects, including deafness, hearing loss, deaf culture, and removing barriers faced by those with hearing loss; * Publish newsletters; * Teach American Sign Language classes: * Hold workshops and special events for people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing; * Consult with other service agencies and refer clients who need in-depth expertise not available at the agency; * Sell assistive devices for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, such as flashing light and vibrating alarm clocks; smoke detectors; doorbell flashing lights; telephone devices for the Deaf (TTYs) and text phones; * Provide adult education services for the deaf in the areas of first time homebuyer training, parenting education, tobacco prevention help, and alcoholics anonymous services for the deaf; * Provide 24-hour emergency interpreting services.

In 1946, the Hearing Conservation Center was established for veterans who returned from combat experiencing hearing loss. The Counseling Services for the Deaf, Inc. (chartered in 1973) originally provided their services in someone's home prior to an arrangement to share office space with the Hearing Conservation Center. Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services developed from the merger in 1979 of these two formerly independent agencies under the name Hearing Conservation/Deaf Services Center in 1979. Under our present name, Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services of Lancaster County, we have expanded our services enough to employ interpreters and case managers in addition to management and support staff.