The first step in engaging deaf and hard of hearing children in language-rich environments is getting their attention. Hearing teachers intuitively raise their voices as they enter their classes to get students' attention; Deaf teachers intuitively wait for the students to look at them. Deaf sign language teachers report that when hearing students wore earplugs for an extended period, the students continued to rely primarily on their auditory sense, even when they knew it had been inhibited. Gaining and maintaining their deaf children's attention, parents ensure their children receive their messages, and this provides one of the first steps in their children's access to a language-rich environment.