Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education最新文献

Early access to sign language is considered fundamental for the development of deaf children; however, around 90% of them are born in hearing families who do not know this language. As a result, early language development of deaf children can be profoundly affected by their lack of exposure to an accessible language. This study sought to examine how hearing parents of deaf children relate to sign language and the process of learning it. A descriptive, analytical, and relational study was conducted, following a qualitative approach based on Grounded Theory. Interviews to 13 parents of two schools for deaf children in Chile were transcribed and analyzed, using open and axial codification strategies. Emerging codes were grouped into four main categories: parents' experiences related to medical diagnosis, school experiences, sign language learning, and communication. Diagnosis is described as a moment of emotional shock, in which parents are faced with a medical approach toward deafness that excludes sign language. The school for the deaf is fundamental in sign language learning, and parents reach different levels of competency in it. We suggest incorporating a social approach to deafness upon diagnosis and providing interdisciplinary support for parents so they may learn about the Deaf community and begin learning sign language sooner.

The current systematic review and meta-synthesis investigated the experiences of Deaf queer people, specifically, how identities in this population shift dynamically in response to their dual marginalization. Data were extracted from 27 qualitative studies, with a sample total of 176 participants. Synthesis was influenced by the Model of Multidimensional Identities to frame resulting categories and themes. Four categories were developed from the data: (1) institutional contributors to identity salience, (2) cultural moderators of institutional neglect, (3) resistance to double exclusion through community, and (4) personal navigation of a contested body. The findings capture a picture of complex discrimination, where identities are largely shaped by society's preconceived prejudices, community, and language access.

For families of deaf children, early language planning is often shaped by high-pressure decisions and conflicting professional advice. This brief introduces Family Language Policy (FLP) as a practical, strengths-based framework for supporting communication decisions following cochlear implantation. Rather than framing oral and visual languages as competing approaches, FLP acknowledges the diverse values, beliefs, and contexts that shape each family's choices. Drawing on bilingualism research and findings from (McMenamin, 2019) this article highlights that developmental outcomes are not determined by modality, but by consistent access to rich language input. Key recommendations include recognizing the impact of access to Deaf cultural resources, supporting hearing parents learning visual language, and engaging families in reflective, values-aligned planning. By shifting focus from prescriptive outcomes to meaningful participation and identity, FLP offers a way forward that respects family agency and promotes language development across modalities.

The present action research study had two main aims. The first aim was to develop and implement a Teacher Training Program for teachers providing early intervention (EI) services for deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) children. The second aim was to investigate the contributions of the Teacher Training Program to the participating teachers, the principal, and the parents of DHH children. The research was conducted at a Special Education and Rehabilitation Center (SERC). The participants of the study included eight teachers, one school principal, eight DHH children, and their parents. Data were collected from reflective journals, documents, observations, semi-structured interviews, meetings, and artifacts, and analyzed using descriptive and inductive methods. The findings showed that teachers achieved significant professional development in the planning and evaluation of EI session, and in their interactions with children, utilizing play as a learning medium, supporting listening and spoken language development skills, and supporting active participation of the family. It was noted, however, that the high teacher turnover stemming from problems related to working conditions at the SERC limited the sustainability of the Teacher Training Program and its benefits to the center.

Loneliness is recognized worldwide as a risk to well-being and health. It emerges from the discrepancy between our expectations of social relationships and the reality. However, very little is known about the experiences of loneliness among older deaf adults. The aim of the study was to describe the experiences and expressions of loneliness among 12 older deaf adults who use sign language. We interviewed them, and the interview transcripts were analyzed inductively. Loneliness manifested itself in a variety of ways in the narratives, facial expressions, postures, movements, gestures, and the very individual-specific signing of the respondents. The narratives illustrated the loneliness they experienced and how they coped with it. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies on loneliness among older deaf adults who use sign language. It should be acknowledged: Discovering and understanding this hidden phenomenon is the key to alleviating it. Future studies should explore tailored interventions and inclusive communication strategies to alleviate loneliness. Involving older deaf adults who use sign language in cocreating solutions will be essential.

To provide a first description of Australian Sign Language (Auslan) handshapes, the signed productions of 44 children aged 3.0-6.8 years were documented using a new approach, the "Handshape Analysis Recording Tool" (HART) across a 2-year period. This yielded a corpus of 3,166 signs and 3,849 individual handshape tokens. The frequency, accuracy, and relative impact on communication were calculated for each handshape. The overall Auslan handshape accuracy was 90.5%. The most frequent Auslan handshapes were B, 1, S, 5, and Bent 5, and these were produced with 89%-94% accuracy. This level of handshape accuracy was high compared to past reports for American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL). The most frequent and accurate Auslan handshapes only partially overlapped with previous ASL and BSL research, suggesting that early handshape repertoires may be specific to particular sign languages.

This family and practitioner brief addresses the role of interpreters and deaf students' autonomy in mainstream classrooms. It explores deaf individuals' and interpreters' perspectives on the interpreters' role, approaches to working together, and students' autonomy, which were taken from individual and group interviews. The brief will conclude by sharing strategies for supporting student autonomy and enhancing communication and collaboration between deaf students, interpreters, and educational team members.

The role of fingerspelling or manual alphabet for reading among deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals has been of great interest in research. What can decades of research on fingerspelling and reading among deaf individuals tell us about how fingerspelling aids deaf children's reading development? This scoping review was, therefore, undertaken to explore: (a) What is the relationship between fingerspelling and reading?, (b) In what ways do fingerspelling abilities promote reading skills?, and (c) What is known about using fingerspelling to teach reading? We identified 26 studies that were screened and summarized according to publication characteristics. The content and methods of these studies were briefly described. The results revealed a larger proportion of quantitative methods and ASL/English settings. A discussion and implications for future research are provided.

The present study aimed to explore the evolving role of fathers in the lives of young deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children and to construct a theory that explains this role within the Turkish context. The participants were 12 Turkish fathers of young DHH children. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, theoretical data were collected over seven months through semi-structured interviews, supported by supplementary techniques including information forms, observations, documents, an artifact, and a reflective journal. The data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis and constructivist grounded theory coding. The theory identified five interrelated themes: fulfilling fatherhood, experiencing deafness, attending early intervention, adapting to lifestyle changes, and planning for the future. Fathers held certain perceptions of their role and acted accordingly in the lives of their children. Their family lives changed following the diagnosis of deafness; they obtained hearing technologies for their children, attended early intervention sessions, and reorganized their family lives based on new knowledge and skills acquired from these sessions. They supported their children in new lifestyles and made plans for their future well-being. Taken together, these themes demonstrate how fatherhood is constructed and fulfilled within the Turkish context, offering a new perspective in the field of deaf studies.

This study uses a mixed-method sequential approach to explore the prevalence, perceptions and experiences of deaf children in relation to their emotional well-being in Northern Ireland. While there is a small body of research exploring the application of human rights treaties for deaf children, there is an absence of research that applies a rights-based framework to their emotional well-being. Drawing on findings from our study we argue that deaf children experience a lack of inclusive time and space(s) across their lives, and that they carry undue burden and responsibilities in implementing their own rights. We argue that these factors contribute to the higher prevalence of mental health conditions they experience compared to their hearing peers. We further examine the role of a rights framework as a facilitator to better well-being, drawing on children's views on ways forward, arguing that effective implementation of rights is a precondition to positive well-being.