Either/or proposition for deaf children

Government initiatives, particularly infant hearing screening programs, have resulted in earlier diagnosis of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The subsequent use of cochlear implants at younger ages has resulted in more age-appropriate speech and oral language outcomes.

Unfortunately for deaf children, the issue of spoken language versus American Sign Language (ASL) is presented as an either/or proposition: if you choose a cochlear implant and oral communication, ASL is no longer offered as an option and parents are led to believe that if they use sign language with their child, the cochlear implant will be less than effective. However, there is nothing in research literature to suggest that a child cannot use both spoken language and ASL. With time set aside for each language to be learned individually rather than simultaneously, a deaf child can successfully acquire both languages.

With good spoken language skills, a deaf child can more easily access the hearing world and with ASL proficiency, the child can have a healthy deaf identity and access the rich culture associated with ASL. read more