Chapter 7
Choosing and learning
a language
67
When a child is comfortable using the basic communication skills
described in Chapter 4, she is ready to learn a language. A child who
is deaf or cannot hear well can first learn a sign language (see Chapter
8) or a spoken language (see Chapter 9). Whichever language a child
learns, it must meet her abilities and needs.
The language she learns first will depend on many things such as how
much she can hear, which language she prefers, her natural abilities and
the resources available in her community. It can also depend on how her
parents react to her deafness. Knowing deaf people in the community
may help parents be able to accept their child’s deafness and also find
ways to help her learn a language.
In places where there are few resources for deaf children, parents might
feel that they have no choice about which kind of language their child
can learn. But if you put your child’s needs and abilities first, you will
make the best decisions you can.
It is not always easy to know
what is best for a child...
but you must try.