Signed language for deaf children

Giving blanket advice that deaf children don't need sign language because you know a deaf child who was "fine without it", is problematic. And here's why....

The deaf and hard of hearing cohort is highly heterogenous and unique. No deaf experience is the same and therefore the pathway to language acquisition is not a "cookie cutter" approach.

There are a LOT of factors that need to align for a deaf child to develop age-appropriate spoken language. It's not just about their device use and approach to early intervention.

There are many things that can happen to our deaf child on the journey that are outside our control and cannot be predicted or planned for.

Including a signed language for a deaf child isn't about replacing a spoken language or taking the focus away from a spoken modality.

It's about ⬇️

✅ Safeguarding a deaf child's future when the things we can't control happen
✅ Ensuring access to a natural language that is always available when devices/tech and other things fail
✅ Reducing the impact of missed incidental language and learning (particularly for those in an all hearing family)
✅ Providing a visual avenue for linguistic input so they have multiple pathways and opportunities to learn new language
✅ Providing an alternative communication method when auditory fatigue hits and they want a break from their devices
✅ Ensuring any missed "gaps" in understanding can be caught and taught before it's too late
✅ Connecting our children to community and deaf and hard of hearing people who get their journey on a level we, as hearing people, cannot

All deaf and hard of hearing children can access a signed language, however only SOME deaf and hard of hearing children can access a spoken one at the level required for full acquisition.

Putting all our eggs in the "auditory basket" puts our children at greater risk of language deprivation later on.

There are more deaf and hard of hearing children who are language deprived, than those who are not. It's about giving them EVERYTHING we've got in our toolkit so that they have the chance to thrive.