Recommendations for action in serving the hearing impaired mentally retarded (HIMR) are presented by a committee composed of representatives from the American Speech and Hearing Association, the Conference of Executives of American Schools for the Deaf, and the American Association on Mental Deficiency. The population is defined to include those individuals who have hearing impairment, subaverage general intellectual functioning and deficits in adaptive behavior. Reviewed are the constitutional and legal rights of handicapped persons, and outlined are significant federal funding provisions affecting services to the HIMR. Problems within the existing system of services are summarized, and suggestions for program coordination (such as development of comprehensive data systems and establishment of a national information center) are made. Prevention services and early identification are described among the aspects of a continuum of services for the HIMR. Considered in a discussion of personnel availability and utilization are the use of interdisciplinary personnel and training programs for professionals and paraprofessionals. Listed are the committee's issues and recommendations for such areas as legislation, financing, administrative and organizational structure, and teaching, management and supervision. Included in four appendixes is a list of professional and governmental resources. (CL)