How Hearing Caregivers Learn Sign Language
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Our recent study, in the Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development "Hearing parents as sign language learners" by Elana Pontecorvo, Julie Mitchiner, and Amy Lieberman explores whether hearing caregivers can successfully learn a sign language like ASL to communicate with their deaf or hard of hearing children.
Spoiler: they absolutely can!
Key Findings:
Hearing caregivers who participated in the study were beginning and intermediate signing skills. Many parents demonstrated functional sign language skills that allowed them to communicate effectively with their child. And they weren’t just learning the basics- caregivers learned and used complex aspects of sign language, like classifiers and fingerspelling, and used a wide range of signs.
This research challenges the idea that learning a sign language is too difficult for hearing caregivers instead showing that it is something that caregivers can achieve.
What this means for families:
Learning to sign is an achievable goal. Here are some ways to get started:
Take a Class: Enroll in sign language classes through your child’s school, online, a community college or university, or through a local Deaf organization
Use apps: Language learning apps allow for learning at your own pace and are a resource to look up signs as they come up in daily life.
Engage with the Deaf Community: Attend events to connect with deaf signers and other families and practice your signing
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