12 hearing difficulties and communication
All children can learn to communicate
Children who have different hearing abilities can communicate with
gestures, home signs, a complete sign language, and lip-reading and
speaking. Some children who can hear a little will be able to speak and
read lips. Other children communicate best by making signs with their
hands. Young deaf children can learn sign language easily and naturally
— just like young hearing children learn a spoken language.
To feel good about themselves
and to have a sense of belonging,
it is important for deaf children to
meet each other and also to meet
adults who are deaf.
There may be a deaf person in
the community who can teach
children sign language.
Some families are able to send
their child to a special school
for deaf children. Other families teach their children at home. Some
children may be helped by getting a hearing aid from a clinic and
learning to read lips.
Whatever type of communication you use, this book will try to help you
communicate with your child.
Every family has its own story
about the difficulties they faced and
what they did to help their child.
Sharing these stories can help
families find ways to help
their children learn
and feel secure.
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)