Most deaf children are born into hearing families and aren’t exposed to sign language as newborns. As a result, deaf children have limited exposure to sign language and language, in general.
Executive functioning skills such as controlling attention, impulses and emotions are also impacted by the lack of language.
Scientists found that kids who didn’t learn to sign until age three, took much longer to perform a task requiring attention. They don’t catch up in adulthood.
At eight months, babies can sign their first words. At nine months, they make up to seventy signs. At ten months, they understand phrases.
Between 3 and 5, they can say 2000 words, know all the letters and read picture books. Amazing.
Claudia
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