Early Language Access: Setting the Foundation

Why Early Language Access is So Important

When it comes to raising a deaf or hard of hearing child, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is how to ensure your child has full access to language from the very beginning. This isn’t just about hearing sounds or developing speech—it’s about giving your child the rich language exposure they need for healthy growth, connection, and development. Early access to language is vital for shaping not only communication skills but also the way your child understands the world.

What Is Language Access?

Language is more than just words; it’s a system that helps us communicate, learn, think, and build relationships. Whether that language is spoken or signed, it acts as the foundation for cognitive, social, and emotional development. For deaf or hard of hearing children, the sooner they have access to a fully accessible language the better.

The Critical Window for Learning Language

The early years of a child’s life are a critical period for language development. During these early years, children’s brains are incredibly flexible and primed to absorb language. If children have full access to a language—whether spoken or signed—they will naturally develop the skills they need to think, learn, and interact with others. It doesn't matter which language(s) a child is learning, French, Spanish, English and ASL are equally good at supporting a child's development.

What Happens When Language Access is Limited or Delayed?

When a child doesn’t have full access to language in those critical early years, it can lead to gaps in their development. Without language, children miss out on the opportunity to build important thinking skills, engage with others socially, and express themselves fully. Delayed language access can be traumatic, and can lead to challenges with all sorts of things from memory, to brain development, to socio-emotional learning. The effects can be long lasting, and we don't have great evidence about how to reverse them

For many deaf or hard of hearing children, focusing only on spoken language without access to sign language can lead to these kinds of delays. This is because even with hearing aids or cochlear implants, many children do not gain complete access to spoken language. Sign language, on the other hand, provides a fully accessible visual language that allows children to immediately begin learning and communicating.

The Power of Early Access to Sign Language

Introducing sign language early on—right from birth, if possible—gives deaf and hard of hearing children a clear, reliable way to express themselves and understand the world around them. Sign language doesn’t interfere with speech development; in fact, research shows that using sign language can help boost overall language skills, whether the child also learns to speak or not.

When a child has access to sign language, they can start building strong cognitive and social foundations, even if their spoken language skills develop more slowly or are supplemented by technology. By giving children full access to language through signing, you ensure that they don’t miss out on critical learning opportunities during their early years.

Do you have to choose between signed and spoken language?

No! Many families worry they need to choose between sign language and spoken language, but you don’t have to pick one over the other. Starting with sign language gives your child a strong foundation and supports their overall language development, including spoken language. It also lowers the stakes: your child's growth doesn’t depend solely on whether they learn to speak, because sign language provides everything they need for healthy development right from the start.

Moving Forward

Making sure your child has full access to language from the start is one of the best decisions you can make for their future. Early access to sign language provides them with the tools they need to communicate, learn, and grow, even as they explore other ways of interacting with the world. It’s not just about hearing or speaking—it’s about giving your child the opportunity to connect with the world, develop a sense of self, and thrive both socially and cognitively.

By embracing language access early, you’re giving your child a solid foundation for a bright, successful future.

Key Takeaways:

• Early language access is critical for a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development.

• Delayed access to language can lead to challenges that are difficult to reverse later in life.

• Sign language provides an immediate, fully accessible language for deaf or hard of hearing children, helping them develop essential skills from the start.

• Families don’t have to choose between sign and spoken language—both can support your child’s growth and development.

  
  

Check out the rest of our website for more information on early language access and practical tips on how to get started!