choosing and learning a language 77
Things to think about
Because each family — and each child — has different needs and
abilities, there is no single method that is always right for everyone. The
important thing is to work well with the resources you have. The next
few pages give some information and ask some questions that can help
you get the best results with your child.
Sign language
may succeed if:
• your family is able and
willing to learn and use
sign language.
• there are people or books
that can teach sign
language to your child
and your family.
• there is a deaf school in
your area that teaches
sign language to students.
is more likely to succeed if:
• your family is patient and
everyone works hard to learn
and use sign language.
• there are people
who can teach a
complete local sign
language to your
child and your
family.
Spoken language
may succeed if:
• your child can hear some
speech sounds (see Chapter 5,
‘What can your child hear’).
• your child learned to speak
and understand words before
he lost his hearing.
• your child finds it easy to
read lips (some children are
better at it than others).
is more likely to succeed if:
• your child has a hearing aid
that he uses almost all the
time.
• your child gets
professional help at a clinic
or pre-school program
for
deaf children.
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)