74 choosing and learning a language
Benefits of using sign language
• Young children learn sign language very
easily when they are exposed to it. With
practice, older children and teenagers
are able to learn and use sign
language without too much trouble.
• A child who uses sign language can
communicate with anyone who knows
the same sign language — just as fully as a hearing child who uses a
spoken language. He will get to know other people who are deaf, and
learn that deaf people are an important part of the community.
• It may be easier for a child who knows sign language to learn to read
and write the language of her community. The more language a
person has, the easier it is to learn another language.
• Unlike spoken languages, different sign languages are more easily
understood by people around the world. It is easier for a signing child
from China to communicate with a signing child from Nicaragua
than it is for hearing people from those countries to communicate.
Difficulties with using sign language
• A child who uses sign language cannot communicate with people
who do not know sign language. To be able to communicate with
your child, family members, friends, and
others in the community must also
learn sign language.
• While children learn to sign easily,
adults have to study a lot to learn a
complete sign language.
• If a family lives in a community
where there are no people who
use sign language, it may be very
difficult to find a sign language
teacher, or other people to use a sign
language with.
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)