1. BY KELLY EDWARDS
DEAF CULTURE
PROFESSOR DONALD HASTINGS
Presented APRIL 11, 2012

2.  HEALTHY BABY
 BOY OR GIRL
 NORMAL
BONDING
EXPERIENCE
 BABY WILL LOOK
LIKE/BE LIKE
MOM AND DAD

3. BORN DEAF BORN HARD OF
HEARING
 1 in every 1,000  6 of every 1,000 are
babies are born born with some
degree of hearing
Deaf. loss.
Permanent hearing loss at birth
annually affects 24,000 infants in the
USA; that is, 6 infants per 1,000 will
have a hearing loss in at least one
ear that will affect communication,
cognition, and educational
development. (National Institute of
Health)

4. MY CHILD IS DEAF,
SO WHAT DO I DO
NOW?
 I will cry.
 I will be angry.
 I will look for
answers as to
“why” my child is
Deaf.
 I will blame myself
for my child‟s BUT…
hearing loss.
 I will cry again. I probably won‟t learn sign
 I won‟t know where language.
to turn for help. (Because only 23% of parents
 I will feel with Deaf children do!)
inadequate. (Gallaudet Research-www.Gallaudet.edu „Substance Abuse: A Hidden Problem Within
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Communities‟)

5. The Process
Begins Choices
 Health Professional
 Hearing Aids
 An Audiologist  Cochlear Implants
 An ENT
 Service Coordinator  Hearing/Oral schools
 Speech and Language
Pathologist  State/Deaf schools
 Teacher of the Deaf
 Possibly a regular classroom  Main streaming
teacher
 ASL
 PSE
 SEE
 No sign language

6. Oddly enough, there are books
and television shows about
teaching a hearing child to sign,
but what about Deaf children?
Deaf Children are
mainstreamed into hearing
schools and some are never
taught a signed language.
This typically adds to the anger
and isolation that Deaf
individuals already feel.

8.  Communication A study done by Gallaudet
 Family acceptance University
 Peer acceptance Suggests that
 Self acceptance ONE OUT OF SEVEN
 Frustration
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
 Anger
 Isolation will become
 Depression addicted to drugs or alcohol!
That is 30% higher than
individuals
How to cope? That can hear!

9. Learning that your child is handicapped, whether
this knowledge comes at birth or at some later
date, is one of the most stressful of family
experiences. As Howard (1978) noted, “Instead of
appreciating the baby‟s abilities, the family will see
instead evidence of his deficiencies…each member
of this unit, including the handicapped child ,
influences marital quality and family interaction”
(Educational and Developmental aspects of
Deafness, Donald F. Moores; Gallaudet University
Press, 1990)
BUT..

10. Deaf children are able to communicate
The Deaf child feels more safe and secure
The child‟s needs are more readily met
The parent/child bond is made stronger
Deaf children feel more accepted not only
at home, but in general.
(Gallaudet Research www.Gallaudet.edu)

11. They argue less
Everyone can communicate exactly
what they are feeling
The Deaf child is healthier emotionally,
physically and psychologically
The Deaf child feels safe and secure

12. My family knew that I was Deaf,
When I was only three,
And since then, 15 years ago Thoughts of a Deaf Child
Have never signed to me.
I know when I’m around the house,
I try and use my voice,
It makes them feel more comfortable;
For me, I have no choice.
I try to communicate their way,
Uncomfortable for me.
My parent’s wouldn’t learn to sign
Ashamed or apathy?
I never cared about the sound of radios and band;
What hurts me is, I never heard
My parent’s signing hands.
YouTube http;//www.youtube.com/user/4jsabc

13. Working Bibliography
Dan Reveal, 3/20/2012, Ways to Encourage Others to Use Sign Language
Gallaudet Research, Debra Guthmann, Substance abuse: A Hidden Problem Within
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing World, Gallaudet Press
Alone in a Hearing World, Laura LeKouiez
Personal Experience