children who cannot hear well need help early 15
Children’s communication skills and language
also develop step by step
Children’s language develops in the same way as their physical skills.
They learn simple skills first.
1 Babies begin to express their thoughts,
needs, and feelings by making sounds or
using facial expressions and pointing.
2 They hear and understand
other people’s words.
Do you
want some
more?
Where is
mama?
3 They begin to use words. They know and
use names of the people closest to them.
Nana?
Yes,
sweetheart?
4 Later they start to talk
and express themselves
more completely.
Can I have
some?
5 Words help them think
and learn new things.
All
clean!
That’s
right,
Mari.
Learning language
When you are surrounded by words, it is easy to learn the language that
people in a community speak. Children learn language as they listen
to people talk to each other and watch what happens, and as they talk
to other people. Language becomes a way for them to understand their
experiences and how the world around them works.
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)