By resodev - December 16, 2024
by Jacqueline Wunderlich, Family Center on Deafness
Imagine your child is born deaf or hard of hearing… and they are the very first deaf person you’ve ever met! What should be a time of joy is filled with uncertainty, medical professionals, and overwhelming decisions.
90-95% of deaf and hard of hearing babies are born to families who are new to deafness and struggle to find connections and support for their family.
And it’s high stakes. Language deprivation is the single greatest developmental threat to deaf children today. It’s easy for parents to feel overwhelmed, but Turbo Tips are for every baby, regardless of how they communicate! Here are some ways the Turbo Tips can be used with deaf & hard of hearing babies.
TUNE IN Pay attention to all communication attempts from your baby! Language is so much more than words or sounds. Tune in to see what catches your baby’s attention and give them visual cues (such as making big facial expressions) to let them know you’re interested too.
TALK & REPEAT When your baby makes a sign or facial expression, copy what they do and then expand on their vocabulary, encouraging them to copy what you added to the conversation. For example, if your child is smiling, you might smile back and sign “happy” or give them other ways to describe what they feel. Repeat the signs often to help them practice.
TAKE TURNS React and celebrate all communication attempts – get close and let them know when to look at you. You can even sign on their body and object you’re identifying.
TAKE TIME Create rituals with routines and familiar signs like mealtime, bath time, or outside time.
Language begins at birth. For every baby, every single word counts!
This blog was contributed by the staff of Family Center on Deafness