Supporting Language Learning at Home for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children

Children who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing require their own unique set of supports at home.  Notice the term “d/Deaf”. The lowercase “d” represents deaf hearing loss and uppercase “D” refers to Deaf culture and community. In this blog, the lowercase “deaf” will be used throughout.

This blog provides information for parents about home supports to help a deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) child learn language and be less frustrated. This blog is useful for children using listening devices, speech, and/or sign language.

Sign Language Tips

As much as you are able, sign everything to help your child learn words and sounds. This includes things like sneezes, things other people are saying, and the ding of an elevator. Request an interpreter prior to any outing (e.g., doctor’s appointment, zoo animal show) to always give your child full language access.

When sign language isn’t an option, turn on captions when you watch television or movies. Some movies have sign language interpreters.

Where Can I Learn More American Sign Language?

• In person with people who are DHH
• Classes at your local college
• Online with people who are DHH
• Apps

Recommended Practices for Wearing Devices

As soon as your child wakes up, put on their hearing aids or cochlear implants. Keep them on as long as your child will tolerate them. Listening is hard work and tiring; children might need a “hearing break” to take their amplification off. When you remove the device, put it in a safe place, and set a visual timer, like a Time Timer, so your child knows when they need to put them back on. These timers help all children see and understand time. Using sign language when they are having a listening break will help them keep learning language.

If your child takes off their listening device, or you are worried about them falling off and getting lost, you can get a hearing aid bonnet. That is a mesh pilot cap that help keep your baby or toddler’s listening devices secure.

Daily Listening Checks for Listening Device Wearers

Is the device working?

Every morning, afternoon, evening, and when they don’t seem to be hearing you, check that your child’s listening devices are working. Are the correct lights on? If it is on, a hearing aid will squeal when you close your hand around it. Check that it is not full of wax and needs to be cleaned. If your child seems like they have not been hearing you for many days, call your doctor to schedule a new listening test.

The Ling Sound Check

The Ling Sound Check is a way to see how well a child is hearing with their cochlear implant or hearing aid, if they are using one. It uses six basic sounds to check for any changes in their hearing. This listening check should be done at the beginning of each day and anytime you think the child may not be hearing as well as usual.

The six sounds used are “ahh,” “eee,” “ooo,” “mmm,” “shh,” and “sss.” These sounds cover a range of speech frequencies from low to high and help show if the child can hear all parts of speech.

To conduct the Ling sound check:

• Sit behind your child so they cannot see your lips
• Speak at a normal volume.
• Clearly say each sound “ahh,” “eee,” “ooo,” “mmm,” “shh,” and “sss” one at a time.
• After each sound, wait for your child to respond. For example, they may turn their head toward the sound.
• Say all six sounds at least three times in a random order. Change how long you pause between them.
• Sometimes, do not make a sound so your child learns that “no sound” is also a possible answer. This way you will know if they are hearing the sounds you are making, or if they are only moving their head looking to the sounds by chance.

Setting Up Your Home for Language Success!

Turn off the distractions- sounds and visuals in your home and car from sources such as a tv, tablet, radio, fan, air conditioner, and open windows make it harder for your child to hear you talking or watch you signing. As best as you can, get rid of other noise and screens so your child can focus on hearing important sounds or watching you sign.

DHH children have a hard time learning new words because they miss out on incidental learning. Incidental learning is all the things you learn by accident – like hearing conversations in other rooms, copying other people, watching facial expressions, and observing your environment. You can help your DHH child by taking them with you when you leave the room. Take them to the kitchen so they hear and see you talking and/or signing about kitchen things. Can’t learn what a whisk is if you never see one while someone talks/signs about it!

IEL Resources

• Resource List: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Resources