Early Language Access: A Guide for Healthcare Providers

Why Early Language Access is So Important

As a healthcare provider working with deaf or hard of hearing children, ensuring they have full access to language from the start is one of the most critical factors in supporting their healthy development. This is not just about enabling them to hear sounds or develop speech—it’s about giving them the robust language exposure necessary for cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Early access to language plays a pivotal role in shaping how children understand the world and connect with others.

What Is Language Access?

Language goes beyond the ability to produce words. It’s a system that allows us to communicate, think critically, and build relationships. For deaf or hard of hearing children, this means having full access to a language that they can fully comprehend, whether spoken or signed. Research has shown that language input is key to development—what matters most is access to a fully accessible language, not just sound or speech​​.

The Critical Window for Learning Language

The early years of life are a crucial period for language acquisition. During these years, children’s brains are highly flexible and primed to absorb language. If they have full access to language during this period, children will naturally develop the cognitive and social skills they need to thrive​​. 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.

It’s important to note that this critical window for language development doesn’t depend on hearing ability. Deaf children need access to a fully accessible language during this period, whether that’s signed or spoken. Without it, they risk missing out on important developmental milestones.

What Happens When Language Access is Limited or Delayed?

Language deprivation—when a child lacks full access to language—can have severe and long-lasting consequences on cognitive and social 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 Families Have to Choose Between Signed and Spoken Language?

No! Families don’t need to choose between sign language and spoken language. Bilingualism—using both a signed and spoken language—can support a child’s overall growth. Starting with sign language provides a solid foundation that supports all aspects of development. It also lowers the stakes for spoken language acquisition, ensuring that children have full language access, regardless of their ability to speak​​.

Moving Forward

As a healthcare provider, your role is crucial in helping families understand that early language access is vital for a child’s healthy development. By promoting early sign language use, you help ensure that deaf or hard of hearing children have the tools they need to communicate, think, and grow. This approach gives children a strong foundation for interacting with the world and developing a sense of self, whether they go on to use spoken language, sign language, or both​.

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.

If you want more information on the science behind these ideas, check out this paper for a deep dive. Check out the rest of our website for more information on early language access and practical tips on how to get started!