Sign Language Delays in Deaf 3- to 5-Year-Olds with Deaf Parents
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| Title: | Sign Language Delays in Deaf 3- to 5-Year-Olds with Deaf Parents |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Donna A. Morere, Thomas E. Allen (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education. 2024 29(2):115-133. |
| Availability: | Oxford University Press. Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP, UK. Tel: +44-1865-353907; Fax: +44-1865-353485; e-mail: jnls.cust.serv@oxfordjournals.org; Web site: http://jdsde.oxfordjournals.org/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 19 |
| Publication Date: | 2024 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | National Science Foundation (NSF), Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) National Science Foundation (NSF), Office of International Science & Engineering (OISE) |
| Contract Number: | 1041725 1545900 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Sign Language, Young Children, Parents with Disabilities, Deafness, Developmental Delays, Visual Aids, Nonverbal Communication, Alternative Assessment, Skill Development, Language Skills |
| DOI: | 10.1093/deafed/enad059 |
| ISSN: | 1081-4159 1465-7325 |
| Abstract: | Research has demonstrated that deaf children of deaf signing parents (DOD) are afforded developmental advantages. This can be misconstrued as indicating that no DOD children exhibit early language delays (ELDs) because of their early access to a visual language. Little research has studied this presumption. In this study, we examine 174 ratings of DOD 3- to 5-year-old children, for whom signing in the home was indicated, using archival data from the online database of the Visual Communication and Sign Language Checklist. Our goals were to (1) examine the incidence of ELDs in a cohort of DOD children; (2) compare alternative scaling strategies for identifying ELD children; (3) explore patterns among behavioral ratings with a view toward developing a greater understanding of the types of language behaviors that may lie at the root of language delays; and (4) suggest recommendations for parents and professionals working with language-delayed DOD children. The results indicated that a significant number of ratings suggested ELDs, with a subset significantly delayed. These children likely require further evaluation. Among the less delayed group, ASL skills, rather than communication or cognition, were seen as the major concern, suggesting that even DOD children may require support developing linguistically accurate ASL. Overall, these findings support the need for early and ongoing evaluation of visual language skills in young DOD children. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2024 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1434417 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | Research has demonstrated that deaf children of deaf signing parents (DOD) are afforded developmental advantages. This can be misconstrued as indicating that no DOD children exhibit early language delays (ELDs) because of their early access to a visual language. Little research has studied this presumption. In this study, we examine 174 ratings of DOD 3- to 5-year-old children, for whom signing in the home was indicated, using archival data from the online database of the Visual Communication and Sign Language Checklist. Our goals were to (1) examine the incidence of ELDs in a cohort of DOD children; (2) compare alternative scaling strategies for identifying ELD children; (3) explore patterns among behavioral ratings with a view toward developing a greater understanding of the types of language behaviors that may lie at the root of language delays; and (4) suggest recommendations for parents and professionals working with language-delayed DOD children. The results indicated that a significant number of ratings suggested ELDs, with a subset significantly delayed. These children likely require further evaluation. Among the less delayed group, ASL skills, rather than communication or cognition, were seen as the major concern, suggesting that even DOD children may require support developing linguistically accurate ASL. Overall, these findings support the need for early and ongoing evaluation of visual language skills in young DOD children. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1081-4159 1465-7325 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/deafed/enad059 |
