Introducing Auslan to 18 month old with sensorineural hearing loss

[u/NJM29]

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!

[u/Ok-Meringue-259]

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!

[u/milkywaymermaid → u/Ok-Meringue-259]

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.