24th September 2023 • My Family Our Needs

Emma Fraser, Teacher of the Deaf at the National Deaf Children’s Society, gives some communication tips that will help you give your child the best possible start in life.

Deaf children are born with the same ability to develop language as any other child. Whatever their stage of development, the way you communicate with your child can make a big difference.

Communication begins from birth

It’s never too early to begin communicating with your baby, because your baby is communicating with you right from the start. Responding to your touch, making noises and copying your expressions are all early signs that your baby is communicating with you. Your baby loves to spend time with you, being held, rocked in time to music, seeing your face and listening to your voice. It doesn’t matter what language you use, whether spoken or signed. Here are some things you can do:

• Use touch and sight as well as your voice to calm your baby, so they know you’re there. See if they quieten when you touch their tummy or see your smiling face.

• Sing songs and move your baby in time with the rhythm of your voice. This will help them learn about the rhythm and pace of speech. When your voice is high, swoop them up into the air and when it’s low, drop them down.

• Copy your baby’s sounds or expressions and wait for them to respond before doing it again. Turn-taking is an important part of learning to communicate.

• Touch your child before you start to talk or sign, and make sure they can see you. Comment on whatever they’re looking at: “There’s a sleepy cat. He’s tired.”

As your child grows

Your baby is growing into a toddler. They’ll begin to use the communication and language they’ve seen and heard to make friends, bond with their family and make sense of their world. But all children develop at their own pace, so don’t worry if they take a little longer to show you what they know. Here are some things you can do:

• Put actions to songs and make up silly rhymes. Rhyme, rhythm and repetition are great ways to build language skills in a fun way and they help your child tune into the way language looks and sounds.

• Repeat back and add in extra information about what your child is looking at and commenting on: “Shoes… yes, they’re your wellies. Now you can jump in puddles.” Repeating and extending your child’s language is a great way of linking new learning to familiar language.

• Use open ended questions like: “What’s that?” and “Where are we going?” Allow time for your child to think about what they’re going to say and how they’ll say it. Deaf children may need extra processing time when using spoken language.

• Use language about thinking and feeling, such as “I wonder,” “What do you think?” and “How do you feel?.” Tell your child what you’re thinking and feeling too. This helps them to label their emotions and understand that people know, feel and think different things to them. It also makes it easier for them to make friends and form relationships with people who don’t know them.

• Give your child the vocabulary they need to talk about their deafness and let others know how best to communicate with them.

Communication makes a difference

Whatever the age of your child, here’s how to improve your communication with them. If you follow the advice below, you’ll be giving them the best possible start in life.

• Make your voice and face interesting by being expressive when you speak. Use your whole body to communicate, from lip patterns to gesture. Make sure they can see you and your face and get their attention before you start to talk. This will help your child engage with language.

• Find out how your child communicates best. Do they understand more when you show them what you are talking about or who you are talking to, by pointing, looking and gesturing? Do they communicate more if you use some simple signs or slow down the conversation, so they have more time to process what you’re saying?

• Improve the listening environment, for example by closing doors, turning off the TV or getting closer and talking one at a time. This will give your child a greater chance of hearing – and seeing – everything you say.

• Create a rich language environment. Comment on what your child is interested in, ask questions and label feelings. Don’t be afraid to use unfamiliar words and signs.

• Learning some signs with your family is also lots of fun and a great way to communicate and bond with your child. The National Deaf Children’s Society provides free Family Sign Language courses.

Communication systems for deaf children

Your child may use hearing aids or cochlear implants to help them hear and learn spoken language. They may also use signs, natural gestures and lip-reading as well.

Some deaf children use sign language. Sign language is a visual language that uses hand shapes, facial expressions, gestures and body language. In Britain, the term sign language usually refers to British Sign Language (BSL). It’s a complete language with its own vocabulary, construction and grammar. BSL is the language of the Deaf community and is an important part of deaf culture.

Other sign systems, such as Signed English or Sign Supported English (SSE), also use the signs from BSL, but follow the structure of spoken English and are used alongside it.

The National Deaf Children’s Society provides parents with up-to-date, comprehensive information about the various communication systems and types of technology available, enabling them to make informed choices about their child’s future.

Where to find help

If your child has recently been identified as deaf, or you just want to find out more about deafness, the National Deaf Children’s Society provides information, advice and events for families. We also provide links to local groups, where you can meet the families of other deaf children.

For advice or support, call the charity’s free Helpline on 0808 800 8880. For more information, visit the charity’s website at www.ndcs.org.uk.

If you suspect your child has a hearing loss, contact the audiology department at your local hospital and request a hearing check, or speak to your GP.

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