View source for Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Use the language that works for your child

{{bctrail|segments=3|chaptitle=Chapter 7: Choosing and learning a language}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Use the language that works for your child}}
{{SideSupplement|bookabbreviation=hcwad|pagealt=is from page 82 of|chapterpdf=http://hesperian.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/en_hcwd_2015/en_hcwd_2015_07.pdf|bookurl=Helping Children Who Are Deaf|booktitle=Helping Children Who Are Deaf}}
{{chaptertoc|In this chapter:|
<ul class{{=}}"noprint">
<li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Chapter 7: Choosing and learning a language|Chapter 7: Choosing and learning a language]]</li>
  <li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Learning language early is important|Learning language early is important]]</li>
  <li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Sign language and spoken language|Sign language and spoken language]]</li>
  <li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Using sign language|Using sign language]]</li>
  <li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Using spoken language|Using spoken language]]</li>
  <li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Things to think about|Things to think about]]</li>
  <li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:How will I know if my child is learning?|How will I know if my child is learning?]]</li>
  <li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Who knows what is best for your child?|Who knows what is best for your child?]]</li>
  <li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Use the language that works for your child|Use the language that works for your child]]</li>
  <li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Resources that can help|Resources that can help]]</li>
</ul>
}}

Your child needs to express himself and understand others. A child needs to know more than to say 'mama' or 'papa'. He needs to develop the ability to listen, to understand what is said, and to respond and communicate with others as easily and as fully as possible.
<div class{{=}}speechbub style="position: relative; height:140px; width: 240px; float: left;">
[[Image:HCWD_Ch7_Page_82-1.png|left|220px|alt=A woman speaking.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 85px; top: 14px; left: 118px;">My grandson uses over 500 words now!</div>
</div>
Parents and caregivers can help a child learn language in a way that makes it possible for him to absorb it. If you find that sign language does not work for your child, think about helping him learn a spoken language. Or if he does not seem to understand spoken language, try to help him learn sign language. Once children know and use one language well, it will be easier for them to learn another language.

Talking to parents whose children have learned a language — a sign language or a spoken language, or both —  will help other parents who are trying to teach their children a language.

<div class{{=}}speechbub style="position: relative; height:150px; width: 565px; text-align: center; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">
[[Image:HCWD_Ch7_Page_82-2.png|center|550px|alt=A man and woman speaking.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 135px; top: 15px; left: 16px;">My son who does not hear at all<br> finds it easier to communicate in <br>sign language.</div>
<div style="position: absolute; width: 145px; top: 30px; left: 401px;">But some deaf children can learn to understand words and talk. My child did.</div>
</div>
<div style="position: relative; width: 225px; height: 130px; float:right;">
[[Image:HCWD_Ch7_Page_82-3.png|right|200px|alt=2 children writing to each other on the same piece of paper.]]</div>
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Even if they cannot hear words, deaf children can still learn to use written language. A child who is deaf learns how words look, rather than how they might 
sound. They see the relationships between symbols. (This is also how the written Chinese language works.) Deaf children who learn to use a language early — a spoken or a signed language — can learn to read and write well. It will help if they also meet deaf adults who can read.

Sometimes deaf people do not learn to communicate when they are children. Although it is much better for young children to learn communication, older children and even adults can learn to communicate. Chapters 8 and 9 describe methods you can use to teach a language to children who are deaf or cannot hear well.

* To help a child learn a sign language, see [[Helping_Children_Who_Are_Deaf:Chapter_8:_Learning_to_use_a_sign_language|Chapter 8]].
* To help a child learn a spoken language, see [[Helping_Children_Who_Are_Deaf:Chapter_9:_Learning_to_use_a_spoken_language|Chapter 9]].

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{{Previous and next sections|Who knows what is best for your child?|Resources that can help}}

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[[es:Helping_Children_Who_Are_Deaf:Use el idioma que le sirva a su hijo]]
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