Why learn sign language? Medical influence on hearing parents decisions

Early access to sign language is considered fundamental for the development of deaf children; however, around 90% of them are born in hearing families who do not know this language. As a result, early language development of deaf children can be profoundly affected by their lack of exposure to an accessible language. This study sought to examine how hearing parents of deaf children relate to sign language and the process of learning it. A descriptive, analytical, and relational study was conducted, following a qualitative approach based on Grounded Theory. Interviews to 13 parents of two schools for deaf children in Chile were transcribed and analyzed, using open and axial codification strategies. Emerging codes were grouped into four main categories: parents’ experiences related to medical diagnosis, school experiences, sign language learning, and communication. Diagnosis is described as a moment of emotional shock, in which parents are faced with a medical approach toward deafness that excludes sign language. The school for the deaf is fundamental in sign language learning, and parents reach different levels of competency in it. We suggest incorporating a social approach to deafness upon diagnosis and providing interdisciplinary support for parents so they may learn about the Deaf community and begin learning sign language sooner

American Sign Language · Deaf community · Hearing loss · Qualitative research · Sign (mathematics) · Sign language · Sociolinguistics of sign languages · Hearing Impairment and Communication · Infant Development and Preterm Care · Language Development and Disorders

• Deaf children’s early sign language access

  Open Access•Elaine Gale, Amber J Martin•The Journal of Deaf Studies and…•2026

  Incluir item

• Made to Hear

  Laura Mauldin•Made to hear•2016

  Incluir item

• Understanding Deaf Culture

  Paddy Ladd•Understanding Deaf Culture•2003

  Incluir item

• Parent American Sign Language skills correlate with child–but not toddler–ASL vocabulary size

  Open Access•Lauren Berger, Jennie Pyers et al.•Language Acquisition•2024

  Incluir item

• The development of bimodal bilingualism

  Diane Lillo-Martin, Ronice Müller De Quadros et al.•Linguistic Approaches to…•2016

  Incluir item

• Hearing parents learning American Sign Language with their deaf children

  Amy M Lieberman, Julie Mitchiner et al.•Applied Linguistics Review•2024

  Incluir item

• Parental Involvement in Deaf Children's Education Programs as a Predictor of Child's Language, Early Reading, and Social-Emotional Development

  Rosario Calderón•The Journal of Deaf Studies and…•2000

  Incluir item

• Deaf Children Need Rich Language Input from the Start

  Open Access•Tom Humphries, Gaurav Mathur et al.•Children•2022

  Incluir item

• Experiences of Hearing Parents of Children with Hearing Loss

  Open Access•Gül Dıkeç, Eda Türk et al.•Children•2023

  Incluir item

• South African parents’ views on oral, signing, and bilingual communication for Deaf or hard-of-hearing children

  Open Access•Katijah Khoza-Shangase, J Theodore Bent et al.•African Journal of Disability•2024

  Incluir item

• Hearing Parents’ Appraisals of Parenting a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Child

  Amy Szarkowski, Patrick J Brice•The Journal of Deaf Studies and…•2016

  Incluir item

• First Information Parents Receive After UNHS Detection of Their Baby's Hearing Loss

  Liesbeth Matthijs, Gerrit Loots et al.•The Journal of Deaf Studies and…•2012

  Incluir item

• Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Early Identification of Deafness

  A Young, Helen Tattersall•The Journal of Deaf Studies and…•2007

  Incluir item

• Mental Health in Deaf Adults

  Marit Hoem Kvam, Mitchell Loeb et al.•The Journal of Deaf Studies and…•2006

  Incluir item

• A qualitative study of mothers’ experiences adopting deaf or hard-of-hearing children

  Open Access•Elizabeth A Rosenzweig, Elaine R Smolen et al.•The Journal of Deaf Studies and…•2023

  Incluir item

• Reading Achievement in Relation to Phonological Coding and Awareness in Deaf Readers

  R I Mayberry, A A del Giudice et al.•The Journal of Deaf Studies and…•2011

  Incluir item

• Best Practices in Family-Centered Early Intervention for Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

  Mary Pat Moeller, Gwen Carr et al.•The Journal of Deaf Studies and…•2013

  Incluir item

• Mode of Communication, Perceived Level of Understanding, and Perceived Quality of Life in Youth Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

  Poorna Kushalnagar, T D Topolski et al.•The Journal of Deaf Studies and…•2011

  Incluir item

• Hearing parents as sign language learners

  Open Access•Elana Pontecorvo, Julie Mitchiner et al.•Journal of Multilingual and…•2025

  Incluir item

• Avoiding Linguistic Neglect of Deaf Children

  Tom Humphries, Poorna Kushalnagar et al.•Social Service Review•2016

  Incluir item