Early access to sign language supports maths skills in deaf children

The researchers said early exposure to sign language can support numeracy skills on par with spoken language. Image: RFBSIP/stock.adobe.com. Children with hearing loss exposed to sign language from birth develop number skills comparable to hearing children, highlighting the importance of early language access, new research has found....

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Audiologists and early intervention specialists should be aware that early sign language exposure is linked to age-appropriate numeracy development in deaf children — this supports advocacy for early sign language access as part of holistic intervention planning.

This research strengthens the evidence base for early sign language inclusion in deaf education and challenges communication approaches that delay or restrict sign language access.

1. 01Deaf children exposed to sign language from birth show numeracy skills comparable to hearing peers.
2. 02Timing of sign language access appears critical — early exposure is the key variable.
3. 03Findings support a bilingual (sign + spoken/written language) approach to deaf education.
4. 04Results have implications for early intervention counselling provided by audiologists and allied professionals.
5. 05Challenges the assumption that hearing-only communication approaches are sufficient for full academic development.

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

2b

Population

Deaf children with early sign language exposure compared to hearing children

Intervention

Early sign language exposure from birth

Comparator

Hearing children without sign language exposure