Shared Reading Program

The Shared Reading Program is based off Gallaudet University’s Shared Reading Project, which was started in the 1990’s.

Early literacy is crucial to language development and directly impacts learning ability and academic success.

I wish to emphasize to parents the distinction between SPEECH and LANGUAGE. Giving a child access to sound is good and well, but be warned against relying solely on it. Giving a child access to SPEECH (which is a sound-based language) does not mean they will have full access to LANGUAGE.  Language is the basis of communication, which is the basis of life and learning. Waiting to build a strong foundation of language can lead to other delays (including cognitive delays and impaired social development) and leans into a cycle that is hard to overcome.

READ THIS ARTICLE from Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development: Deafness and Language Deprivation: Two Distinct Conditions

For a deeper look at Language Development in deaf or hard of hearing children, visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) website. Their article, “Language and Communication of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children” includes detailed research data, resources and a list of references below the article.

*You can find additional information regarding the subject of language development and language deprivation on our resource directory page, under articles…

**Keep reading to find more resources and information in the “Did You Know?” section below.

Did you know?

• Hearing children have access to 95,265 HOURS of language from birth to 18 years of age.
• Deaf children have access to only 19,425 HOURS of language in that same time period.
• The most critical window for a child to develop and acquire a language happens between birth to age 3 and potentially up to age 5.
• During that critical period of development, as much as 70% of deaf or hard of hearing children experience a chronic lack of full language access.
• Research indicates that around 98% of deaf or hard of hearing children do not have access to education in sign language. Statistics are even worse for children of minority groups (BIPOC).
• Approximately 90-95% of deaf children are born into hearing families with no experience with deafness or sign language.
• Less than 40% of families learn sign language and use it at home.
• A visual or signed language is the most accessible and natural language for the deaf, often referred to as a “heart language”.
• Language deprivation is insufficient language exposure in the critical acquisition window of birth to age 5. This can have lasting effects on cognitive and neurological development which can in turn impact a child’s ability to learn – and more.
• “Roughly less than 10% of deaf children are getting early access to sign language.” -Dr. Wyatte Hall, MA, PhD

You do not need to hear SOUND in order to develop a LANGUAGE.

• More than half of all communication (roughly 55%) is body language (non-verbal AND non-auditory) while words and vocal inflection make up the remaining 45%.
• Acquiring language is a time-sensitive period; miss it and the deprivation of language can lead to – and be a risk factor for – mental disorders, cognitive delays and lower quality of life.
• Learning sign language will NOT delay speech. In fact, learning ASL will actually SUPPORT a child’s overall language growth, including English. You CAN have it all; ASL and English! Speech, or the production of sound, is a separate topic, and the physical ability for this varies from person to person and may not be practical for all children.

Check out this video from Dr. Wyatte Hall, MA, PhD on Language Deprivation: click here

Language Deprivation Syndrome (LDS) is a PERMANENT and PREVENTABLE disability: click here

The CDC recognizes that early intervention services before 6 months of age can help deaf or hard-of-hearing children get ready for kindergarten: click here

Mishonne Marks on Linguistic Neglect of Deaf Children in the United States: click here

CDC reports information about Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs: click here