Language Development
The 5 Characteristics of a Deaf Child:
1. Language Delay:
o Idioms: lack the understanding of what idioms mean
o Multiple Meaning Words: for example, the word bill. Bill could mean a person’s name, dollar bill,
duck’s bill, the bill that comes in the mail, etc.
o Omissions: lack of understanding how to omit stuff in their written language
o Reversal of Adjectives
o Trouble with Articles: lack of knowledge with the words
“the, a, an, etc.”
o Overgeneralization of Rules: overusing the rules of
grammar in their speech and writing: sometimes children
with a hearing loss tend to use the word “the” before and
after everywhere just because they over think the
importance of the rules of grammar
o Wrong Verb Usage
o Lack of Subject-Verb Agreement
o Improper Syntax
o Idioms: lack the understanding of what idioms mean
o Multiple Meaning Words: for example, the word bill. Bill could mean a person’s name, dollar bill,
duck’s bill, the bill that comes in the mail, etc.
o Omissions: lack of understanding how to omit stuff in their written language
o Reversal of Adjectives
o Trouble with Articles: lack of knowledge with the words
“the, a, an, etc.”
o Overgeneralization of Rules: overusing the rules of
grammar in their speech and writing: sometimes children
with a hearing loss tend to use the word “the” before and
after everywhere just because they over think the
importance of the rules of grammar
o Wrong Verb Usage
o Lack of Subject-Verb Agreement
o Improper Syntax
2. Speech Development: If a child can’t hear the parts of speech, they won’t produce them without help.
The most successful way of learning to produce speech is through auditory feedback. Often times, visual
cues for learning speech is a wonderful way to teach them speech, however they’re naturally are often not
available—such as the homophonous sounds in English.
3. Intellectual Ability: over time, research went from saying that students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
were inferior intellectually; then that they were more concrete in their thinking; and now that they have
normal intelligence (following trends for hearing children) but may differ in some areas. Some areas may
develop later than in hearing children (theory of mind, object permanence) but do develop. They often
time struggle with the relationship between language and thought.
4. Academic Achievement: a Deaf or Hard of Hearing child’s general knowledge is often delayed. Because
of their lack of ability to hear, they aren’t able to pick up on sounds while growing up compared to those
who do not have a hearing loss. In most cases, Deaf or Hard of Hearing individuals struggle the most
with reading and vocabulary development.
5. Social and Work Adjustment: a Deaf or Hard of Hearing child in a mainstreamed environment usually
has a lot of social isolation because they are not able to relate to their peers compared to those who are
able to in residential schools for the Deaf. Those who actively involved with the Deaf community
sometimes have social isolation with the hearing world. Families with a Deaf or Hard of Hearing child
often struggle with isolation anywhere.
The most successful way of learning to produce speech is through auditory feedback. Often times, visual
cues for learning speech is a wonderful way to teach them speech, however they’re naturally are often not
available—such as the homophonous sounds in English.
3. Intellectual Ability: over time, research went from saying that students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
were inferior intellectually; then that they were more concrete in their thinking; and now that they have
normal intelligence (following trends for hearing children) but may differ in some areas. Some areas may
develop later than in hearing children (theory of mind, object permanence) but do develop. They often
time struggle with the relationship between language and thought.
4. Academic Achievement: a Deaf or Hard of Hearing child’s general knowledge is often delayed. Because
of their lack of ability to hear, they aren’t able to pick up on sounds while growing up compared to those
who do not have a hearing loss. In most cases, Deaf or Hard of Hearing individuals struggle the most
with reading and vocabulary development.
5. Social and Work Adjustment: a Deaf or Hard of Hearing child in a mainstreamed environment usually
has a lot of social isolation because they are not able to relate to their peers compared to those who are
able to in residential schools for the Deaf. Those who actively involved with the Deaf community
sometimes have social isolation with the hearing world. Families with a Deaf or Hard of Hearing child
often struggle with isolation anywhere.
Source of Image:
Deaf Child Writing. [Digital image]. (2010, October 22) Retrieved November 18, 2010, from
http://www.ehow.com/how_7381085_teach-writing-deaf-children.html