The interplay between early social interaction, language and executive function development in deaf and hearing infants. Infant Behavior and Development, 64(August 2021), 101591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101591

Morgan, G., Curtin, M., & Botting, N. (2021).

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0163638321000667?dgcid=coauthor

This paper tells us about social interaction, language and executive function (EF). These are skills that develop early in a child’s life. Skill development is supported by people interacting with the young child. This paper tells us that early social interaction helps language and EF develop, then language and EF skills support each other (see fig. 1 p3). It outlines some challenges deaf children and their families may have.

Section 5 tells us about some clinical intervention studies. The studies give some ideas about skills to focus on (p 7) ‘skills in responsiveness, in waiting and observing their child’s play, commenting using contingent talk, and maintaining connected turns’. These ideas may help us help deaf children and families.

It’s a paper with lots of interesting technical terms. Do you use these words and phrases in your work? If you do, how do you sign them?

• Executive functions – response shifting, inhibitory control, and attention flexibility
• Social interaction
• Intersubjectivity – how children develop thinking skills that help them share each other’s intentions and ideas (See section 2)

Discussing these terms with your team will help everyone have a shared understanding of the words and signs.

Using Gesture To Identify and Address Early Concerns About Language and Pragmatics by Susan Goldin-Meadow

This paper describes how using gesture can help children develop language. It gives information about how gestures (actions) link to words and signs. Looking at children’s gestures can help us notice how a child’s communication, thinking, and language are developing.

There are ideas about using gesture on pages S281 and S282. The suggestions are in two parts;

1. looking at the child’s gesture to help you understand their development and thinking,

2. using gestures in intervention

You can download the paper from here

Reference

Goldin-Meadow, S. (2020). Using gesture to identify and address early concerns about language and pragmatics. Pediatrics, 146(November). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-0242G

Some questions

Are reading suggestions helpful? Should we post more?

Would this summary be better with a BSL version?

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the UK workshop. Here is some feedback from the day.

Over 100 people attended the event.

Polls and feedback form

Poll 1 – 78 people completed the poll at the start of the day.

For their workplace, 19 people told us Deaf Language Specialists and Speech and Language Therapists worked together often, 32 told us they sometimes worked together, and 29 told us DLSs and SLTs never worked together.

Poll 2 – 80 people completed the ‘training’ poll. 62/80 people had not had any training in language therapy in BSL.

Feedback form – 60 people completed feedback forms 58/60 wanted to complete the course when it is available.

How do we share ideas about language therapy in BSL? Please comment with ideas of how to build a network!

DOTDeaf is an Erasmus+ funded project developing free learning opportunities to a specific group of deaf adults, Deaf Language Specialists (DLSs) and co-working Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs). DLSs are a small group with specialist skills who work with deaf children and adults in educational, social and health settings.

The project represents the work of representatives from the following organisations:

• Joanna Hoskin & Ros Herman, City, University of London (UK)
• Arancha Diez Abella, Fundación CNSE (Spain)
• Mar Pérez Martin and colleagues, Equipo Especifico de Discapacidad Auditiva (Spain)
• Ana Mineiro, Helena Carmo & Sebastião Palha, Universidade Catolica Portuguesa (Portugal)
• Felipe Barbosa, Universidade de Sao Paulo (Brazil)

It was great that over 80 people participated in the UK workshop.

Videos and information about the project are still available at

https://www.city.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/2021/04/dotdeaf-uk-workshop

You can also share the link with colleagues who did not attend the workshop!

Download the programme pdf from the events page.

It includes links to learning materials.

https://www.city.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/2021/04/dotdeaf-uk-workshop

See event page for links to videos in BSL and written information in English –

https://www.city.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/2021/04/dotdeaf-uk-workshop#

Learn more about the DOT Deaf project!

Please encourage colleagues to subscribe to this blog. Links and information for the workshop will be posted here. You can review the materials in the ‘informal sessions’ on 22nd (9-10.30 and 3.30-4.30) or at a time that suits you.

Register for the DOTDeaf UK workshop at https://www.city.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/2021/04/dotdeaf-uk-workshop

Please engourage your colleagues to join this blog. Share the event link too!

Watch the blog for more information about the day……..

Here’s an outline of the six modules and who may use them.

Our workshop on 22nd April will tell you more about how the modules were developed. It will give you more information about how we are using them now.

The registration link to the workshop with be posted here soon. Please encourage colleagues to subscribe to/join the blog.