What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: The Risk of Language Deprivations for Deaf Children

A persistent myth in deaf education holds that sign language interferes with spoken language development. This commentary dismantles that claim using neurological and developmental research, showing that delayed language access — not sign language — leads to permanent brain changes, cognitive delays, and mental health difficulties. Cochlear implants alone are shown to be an unreliable first-language intervention. Early, fully accessible language is framed as a non-negotiable protective factor for healthy deaf child development across all domains — making a compelling case for ASL/English bilingual approaches.