Communication and Language Choices

Communicationand Language Choices

Communication and Language Choices

The good news is that there are lots of ways you can establish good communication with the deaf child in your life and help them to learn language fully.

Did you know that communication and language are not the same thing?

Communication is how you share your message, for example – voice, gesture, eye gaze, facial expression, touch, posture and for spoken languages like English we can also use writing.
Language is the system of particular words or signs you use to inwardly structure your thoughts and feelings and outwardly convey them. Language is a tool of communication.

While it can feel a bit overwhelming when you discover that there are so many communication options for deaf children, particularly if it seems there are mixed messages about which option is best, we find that the most successful families and professionals like to have a tool-kit approach giving them as many options as possible to meet the deaf child’s needs.

Communication

Skills we can all use

The one thing that we can ALL do is enhance our deaf-friendly communication skills as much as possible, here are some top tips:

Make sure you are turned towards each other and get their attention before you start to speak or sign , eye contact is important
Make sure they can see you easily, be on their level, make sure your face is well lit
Use positive visual clues such as facial expression, clear natural lip patterns and gestures
Speak/sign clearly and naturally (don’t shout or over exaggerate your mouth movements)
Give context first eg Ball. Where is the ball?
Slightly change your message if you are not understood the first time eg

It’s time to go out into the garden now.

Play time! Let’s go out to the garden.

If they are using listening be mindful of their hearing levels, is one ear better than the other? Position yourself accordingly.
Be mindful of their exhaustion levels – it takes a lot of energy and effort for a deaf child to listen and lipread, can you help them rest and recover as much as they need?

British Sign Language

British Sign Language has been an officially recognised minority language in the UK since 2003. The speaker silently combines handshapes, facial expression, eye gaze, arm and body movements and placement to convey their message. BSL has its own grammar and syntax and is almost entirely separate from English, it is a silent, spatial language with no written form. Every country has its own distinct signed language, and most users identify as culturally deaf and are proud to be so. Many hearing people are also members of the signing community and often use their signing skills in a professional capacity.

Some more information about sign language

You can access BSL lessons online:

https://www.british-sign.co.uk/learn-online-british-sign-language-course/

Ideally BSL is taught by a native user, a deaf adult who is a trained BSL tutor.

Some areas have BSL Language Role Models who may visit the home and work with you and your child directly, ask your Teacher of the Deaf about this.

You may be able to find classes near you, visit this website to find your nearest class:

https://www.signature.org.uk/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw_4S3BhAAEiwA_64YhtQSkBFqFoSN-1Yqa9Y9Xay9HI4QVCwjWPYWJnYl0mBX5FM49pfLbBoCEqIQAvD_BwE

An example of a story told in British Sign Language

Examples of BSL alongside Cued English and Signed English