More and more parents are teaching their hearing babies signs like “eat,” “sleep” and “more.” But at the same time, many parents of deaf and hard of hearing children opt to shun Sign Language from the household. Instead, many deaf babies are taught to verbally say “eat,” “sleep” and “more.”
What is the reason for this paradox? At its root is the myth that Sign Language enhances a strength in hearing babies – and magnifies a “weakness” in deaf babies. Influencers like the Audio Verbal Therapy (AVT) Group and Alexander Graham Bell Organization urge parents to not use sign language with their deaf and hard of hearing children, arguing that it will stunt speech by shortchanging the brain’s aural/oral areas. This myth does not typically alarm parents of hearing children.
Medical bias is also a huge influencer. When hearing parents find out their child is deaf, they turn to doctors, who give information about the latest medical devices (like hearing aids) and surgeries (like cochlear implants). In most cases, neither parents nor medical professionals have been exposed to the richness, achievements and tools of Deaf Culture.
Due to lack of information on sign language, agencies and deaf schools, the result is a one-sided set of resources for parents seeking the best approach to their child’s needs as a deaf individual. While it is a giant leap forward to encourage hearing babies to sign, society’s battle is only half won when Sign Language is withheld from any child.
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