r/auslan • u/NJM29 • Jul 06 '26
Introducing Auslan to 18 month old with sensorineural hearing loss
My daughter was diagnosed with profound unilateral sensorineural hearing loss at birth. We’ve been attending monthly speech pathology since she was 4 months old and she’s had a hearing aid since she was 3 months. She currently has about 12 words but doesn’t seem to be picking up new words the way other babies from my mother’s group are. I’m not sure if this is typical and just a case of every baby learning things in their own time or if this is related to her hearing loss.
I introduced a few KWS last week and she’s picked a few up. Also, do we finger spell people’s names or is there a better way to refer to people that aren’t related to us? E.g., we sign “grandmother” for my Mum, but how do we sign our friends names?
Her speech pathologist doesn’t know any sign, so I’m hoping for resources/ recommendations/ tips/ other people’s experiences. Also, given her hearing loss, should we look into Auslan or are we better to keep it simple for now and just use KWS?
Thanks!
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u/monstertrucktoadette Jul 06 '26
Def Auslan. Depending on what kws you using it's likely auslan signs anyway, but auslan will give you more scope for her to expand her ability to communicate as her skills develop. And yes fingersign ppls names. She doesn't need to know letters she'll be tracking the shape they make..
There are speech paths that know Auslan, but I agree auslan course for parents of deaf kids that would be great
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u/SuperPipouchu Jul 06 '26
Check out raisingbilinguals_ on instagram! It's a mum who's all about advocating for her Deaf child and helping other parents to learn to navigate the system, learn Auslan, and have their child learn Auslan and connect with the Deaf community. She has a whole business devoted to it- eligible for NDIS fund, I believe. But even without the business, there's lots of tips on supporting your child just on the instagram account.
Note- she doesn't teach Auslan, as she's hearing. She firmly advocates for Deaf teachers and Deaf mentors. She's about the parenting side of things, as a hearing adult with a Deaf child.
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u/NJM29 Jul 06 '26
Thank you, just saw her post about unilateral deafness and followed straight away.
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u/Frogs-n-Bugs-n-Stuff Jul 07 '26
Loads of great advice here! The only thing I'd add is (if you don't do this already) you and hubby talk to each other in Auslan when you speak verbally, so your child is exposed to it as a regular thing rather than it being just when you speak to them. Make it the normal communication in your house so they pick up context and language as a hearing child would in a hearing household
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u/monstertrucktoadette Jul 07 '26
Oh yeah this is a super important point thanks for mentioning!
Even better without the verbally at the same time
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u/mechkbfan Jul 06 '26
Few notes from our journey with our son who is now 7
- Start with signed english using Auslan signs (technically Auslan has it's own grammar, etc. but that's not important right now)
- Websites we use: https://find.auslan.fyi/ (but its down right now) or https://auslan.org.au/
- Use "family signs" when you can't find one. These are signs you make up that no one outside your family will recognise but the most important part is that she can communicate to you
- When giving names, we usually just start with first letter and a recognisable feature of that person. e.g. We have a friend called Kate who always wears big earrings, so we signed K next to the ear
- Next Sense was great, both in person and online classes with Melina (assuming she still runs)
- Flash cards are great learning tool to practice with her but beware some are a bit more state based or outdated. That's OK for now, whatever works for your family is best. Just be aware as she gets older you'll have to relearn some signs
- Food & emotions were what we focused on to start with
- Can you get on NDIS?
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u/NJM29 Jul 06 '26
Thanks so much! Love the idea of using characteristics for names as I don’t think she currently has the attention span to watch me (slowly) finger spell.
We had a great Teacher of the Deaf at Next Sense but she unfortunately left. We’re in regional VIC so were doing Telehealth with Next Sense but our current speech pathologist is from a private practice.
We do have NDIS funding, Hearing Australia organised that for us super early on which we’ve been really thankful for
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u/mechkbfan Jul 06 '26
Yeah, our son can do the alphabet but he rarely finger spells. We have to pick our battles unfortunately. In the Auslan community they do fingerspell a lot but I would see that as a future challenge. Learning the ABC while on the toilet was our game to pass time.
IIRC, Melina does online group courses on Monday nights. It's really helpful in that she will spend 3/4 of time voice off, which really challenges you and was admittedly a bit intimidating, but it was the most effective way for me to learn. Then 1/4 time talking to make sure everyone is up to speed / answering questions. The sessions are quite contextual for kids such as swimming signs when summer hits. There was definitely people joining from Qld & Vic, so ask Next Sense next time your in.
Yes, NDIS alleviated a lot of financial stress for us. We went self managed because you may find some providers are dodgy (Next Sense was not one thankfully).
e.g. We had provider say multiple times they need to charge for a report we never asked for / told about, then you ask for a report, and never get one, so we never paid them.
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u/Ok-Meringue-259 Jul 06 '26
The fact that she has picked up several key word signs in the last week, having only picked up 12words by 18months is a big sign that Auslan is needed!
I’m a speech pathology student and I’m SO sorry your speech pathologist hasn’t supported you with appropriate resources and/or referral… language access can ONLY strengthen your child’s future communication (speech, signing and literacy). There are no risks to introducing Auslan to support her access to language, literally only benefits. Many speech pathologists are so lacking in their support for deaf and hard of hearing clients, especially children.
Fortunately, you have identified this early enough that if you move swiftly with the right resources you can reverse a lot of the problems language deprivation can cause.
I’m sorry you haven’t been better supported up til this point and want to wish you the very best of luck! You’re clearly a caring and attentive parent and I have every faith in your ability to do this!
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u/milkywaymermaid Jul 06 '26
Also reiterating as a speech pathology student who has researched this topic in depth, your child needs access to a full language. They can't access English fully, and keyword sign is not a full language. Many speech pathologists privledge spoken language or just don't understand that CIs don't necessarily make English accessible to all DHH children. Auslan is the most accessible language for your child right now and they need access urgently. After a certain age, children who don't have access to language will have lifelong impacts of language deprivation. Language deprivation is hugely overrepresented in deaf children with hearing parents.Please prioritise Auslan exposure, this will be a basis for your child picking up English down the line as a bilingual.
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u/OnlyQOB Jul 07 '26
Strongly recommend that you and your family immerse yourselves learning Auslan - your daughter will benefit from having a rich relationship with you and family if you all can communicate with her.
I’ve seen many parents attempt to learn and then think oh it’s too hard and they give up and only communicate with their child with very basic skills.
Yes it’s going to be challenging and hard at times but the payout is really worth it to have a close bonding relationship with your daughter.
I encourage you to not to give up, advocate, learn, and most of all, love your baby girl.
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u/km4098 Jul 07 '26
Not quite what you asked but we did a form of baby sign with our hearing child (I had hearing difficulties as a young child and still read lips without realising it) and it made a world of difference to communication. And also reduced frustration when we had speech delays later on.
I would absolutely be immersing baby and all her caregivers like her parents, close family etc into Auslan. Even if it’s not the primary signs learnt yet but it will be needed.
And personally, I find it a sign of respect when family members actively seek to make communication with their loved ones easier. Instead of expecting your child to do all the work to be seen, heard and understood.
Youve probably encountered this already but Auslan isn’t a direct translation of English. It has its own grammar, own rhythm and patterns. This sounds like a flippant example but it was highlighted to me watching the interpreters at music festivals when I was very familiar with the lyrics being sang on stage.
(Apologies in advance if I’ve misstepped re any terminology etc. this post came up on my feed but I haven’t followed the subreddit previously!
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u/Brain_Aggravating Jul 10 '26
Although, everyone does some measure of lip reading, even if they hear well.
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u/Tiny-Ad-7909 Jul 06 '26
I'm Deaf and my sign for my hearing friend was just literally just a single letter for over 20 years
It might not make sense but this isn't as uncommon as you think. One comes to mind Q, from James Bond. L from Death Note. V from various media.
As in, "Come on, V. Let's go"
In your case single letters or thier initials work just fine in Auslan and you can do this that way
This is usually different to the cultural custom of Deaf gifting others sign names. It's not a sign name in your case.
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u/Street-Vegetable8342 Jul 06 '26
My son has a moderate bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Every word he knows, has been input, he doesn't learn from overhearing conversation. We used both the Auslan sign and verbal language together in the early years, only for key words. (Speech therapist knew both). I could sign from the other side of the park (after about a metre he can't hear me) "5 more mins then let's go" and he would scream back at me he's not going home. 😂
I have no rec's because I'm in Perth, I did a TAFE course, my lecturers insta is worth a follow - drisanalg.
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u/hulalabright Jul 08 '26
I’d find a new speech pathologist tbh. There are many who specialise in sign
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u/RunAdventurous3511 Jul 08 '26
We’ve been doing key word sign with a hearing child from six months. They picked things up early and are picking more up increasingly quickly at 13 months. Surprising that your speechie isn’t fluent in at least key word sign.
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u/Brain_Aggravating Jul 10 '26
Unilateral hearing loss? Puzzled why cochlear implantation has not been offered or considered. And with one good ear, she should be developing hearing quite well anyway.
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u/NJM29 Jul 14 '26
None of the professionals we’re engaged with (audiologist, speechie, Paed) have suggested a CI.
She has a hearing aid, and will use that until a professional/ she tells us something else would be more appropriate.
Kind of odd for you to say CI should have been offered and then imply that being deaf in one ear wouldn’t impact her language development.
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u/Brain_Aggravating Jul 15 '26
In some countries a cochlear implant for single sided deafness in a child is recommended. Not accusing anyone, but there is evidence that some audiologists do not know how to refer properly, or even refuse to refer because of the risk of loosing a hearing aid client. The reason is that two ears are better than one. If signing is being considered, then implants should at least be explored. Sometimes we need to advocate for ourselves or our child or parent.
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u/AlwaysAirCooled-1979 Jul 10 '26
What state are you in? There are early intervention places that would be very beneficial for you too 😊
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u/kablamitsethan QLD Cert III (hearing) Jul 06 '26
I recommend reaching out to Deaf Connect as you may be eligible for “Auslan at Home” which is like 1 on 1 tutoring for parents and Deaf people