This booklet provides information to families with young children who are deaf or hard of hearing to assist them with communication, socialization, and education choices. It provides: (1) a description of each of the various modes of communication available for use with and among children with are deaf or hard of hearing, including American Sign Language, auditory-verbal, cued speech, manually coded English, and oral communication; (2) a look at various important issues that parents must consider when making communication and education decisions for their child, including audiological considerations, socialization issues, and educational issues; (3) an overview of various educational options, including parent/infant programs, self-contained residential or day programs, bilingual-bicultural programs, cued speech, oral programs, total communication, and mainstreaming; (4) information on basic legal rights and how these rights empower parents to be their child's most effective advocates within the educational system; and (5) a listing of resources to which parents might turn for more information, including publications, organizations, and information sites on the Internet. (CR)