Communication and Cognitive Skills in Deaf Children

  An important thing for parents of deaf children to consider is how communication is a key to learning, and learning helps develop cognitive skills. When parents find out that their children are deaf, they usually have difficulty trying to communicate with their children.

Parents may wonder how they can communicate and understand what their children need. One of the best solutions to their problem is to take sign language courses. Many resources are provided for parents to find sign language courses in their area, or on the Internet.

Parents should learn communication skills

  Communication Resources for Deaf and Hard of Hearing can be found on Deaf Web website. Parents can also find information at American Sign Language University website. Parents will be able to learn sign language in weeks by practicing everyday and teach their children sign language. If they don't practice, it will delay communication skills with their children.

What can delay cognitive growth?

  Deaf children who have no communication skills may delay their cognitive growth. Without cognitive growth, chances getting a good education are slim.

To understand the highlight of communication between parents, students, and school staffs; Nadene Eisner posted a blog It takes a village: teachers and librarians can help student achieve academic success on Deaf Politics blog site. Eisner expressed concern for deaf children attending to public schools when she learned the average of deaf student graduates at a fourth grade reading level.

  The delay in academic level in deaf children continues to be an issue. However, National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology  improves learning by recognizing and teaching in the particular learning style of the deaf children.

 Deaf children were able to improve their learning skills at their grade level. RIT News website announced the school received $1.1 million to expand deaf education. This will succeed if teachers have a Masters in deaf education, and use sign language.

A teacher having compassion for deaf children

  Melanie Gladstone posted a blog at Schoology website about her accomplishment as a music and dance teacher at South Carolina School for the Deaf. When she  attended college, she fell in love with deaf culture and sign language. She assisted for NTID Dance Company's Director/Choreographer. After she received her Master's in Deaf Education, she became a teacher with so much passion for deaf culture.

Options for parents who do not have Internet

  Plenty of other resources can be found by using special keywords and search engine optimization. However; if parents do not have online resources, parents can go to the independent school district in their area to get resources to ensure their children's education is met. Parents can also use yellow pages to find services for the deaf.

References:

Gerry Grimm (March 18, 2012). Communication Resources for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Retrieved from http://www.deafweb.org/signlang.htm

William Vicars, Ed.D (1997-2012). American Sign Language University. Retrieved from http://www.lifeprint.com/

Nadene Eisner (August 8, 2011). It takes a village: teachers and librarians can help students achieve academic success. Retrieved from http://blog.deafpolitics.org/2011/08/it-takes-village-teachers-and.html

Karen Black (February 8, 2007). NTID lands $1.1 million to expand deaf education. Retrieved from http://www.rit.edu/news/story.php?id=45482

Melanie Gladstone (June11, 2010). Meet Melanie Gladstone | Performing Arts and Deaf Education. Retrieved from http://blog.schoology.com/2010/06/meet-melanie-gladstone-performing-arts-and-deaf-education/