As you learn more about your child's hearing difference, providers, other parents, and professionals will often talk about making sure your child is beginning to develop language and communication skills.
All children need the chance to learn language as early as possible. For most kids, it happens naturally, just like learning to walk, playing, or making friends.
- Babies and young children who can hear learn language by listening to people around them. They pay close attention to voices and respond when someone talks to them. They learn whatever language is spoken at home which may include Japanese, Spanish, French, English, or anything else. Soon, they start using that language to learn and to communicate.
- Children who grow up in families that use American Sign Language (ASL) learn ASL in the same natural way, but by watching instead of listening.
- When a child is able to receive two or more different languages clearly, they can learn them all. For example, a child might grow up using both French and English, German and French, or ASL and English.
Children generally learn the language used in their surroundings, as long as they can clearly hear it, see it, or both.
If you are a parent or family member of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing, it becomes especially important to think about language. Hearing loss can affect natural language development unless steps are taken to support the child. The key is to make sure your child has access to language as early as possible.
Professionals with Early Intervention programs can help your child develop language, and families have different options for the kinds of services and support available.
Watch this video to learn more about deaf and hard of hearing children learning language:
Click on the links below to learn more about language and communication skill development among deaf and hard of hearing children: