Research at
Gallaudet University
2005 - 2006
Older Adopted Deaf Children
| Status: Ongoing | Begin date: October 1, 2000 | End date: No set date |
Description
This study examines the impact of "late" adoption (defined in this study as adoption after the third year) on deaf and hard of hearing children for whom natural acquisition of spoken language is severely constrained. There are separate bodies of literature on the challenges associated with adoption of older hearing children, and studies on the impact of delayed language acquisition for deaf children. However, there is a need for empirical studies of how the language barriers that deaf children encounter interact with the psychosocial challenges encountered in the adoption of older children. Most critical is the need to investigate whether the interventions used with later adopted hearing individuals and their families are appropriate or optimal for deaf individuals and their families. The co-investigators have informally included preliminary findings in academic and professional settings where the topic of development of older adopted deaf children has been relevant.
Investigators
- Mounty, Judith L., Center for American Sign Language Literacy
- Hulsebosch, Patricia, Education