Most children who cannot hear can speak or will speak eventually. Many of them have some hearing and hearing aids help some of them to hear well, and others to hear a little.
Children who cannot hear generally learn to communicate either by sign language or by lipreading. Most deaf children also learn to speak. There are several types of sign language. ASL (American Sign Language) is the fourth most common language in the United States and it has its own grammar. The language is based on pictures and meaning. Several other methods, such as SEE (Signing Exact English) is just like our spoken English, but is done in sign language. It is thought that SEE does a better job of helping kids learn to communicate with hearing people, but that ASL does a better job of helping deaf children fit into the deaf culture. Children who do not learn to sign are usually being prepared only to live in a hearing world.
Anyone who wants to babysit for a deaf child must learn sign language if that is what the child uses to communicate. If this will be a steady customer, arrange for the parents to teach you the most important signs. Then use your babysitting money to buy a sign language book or learn sign language on the Internet. The more you can sign, the better you can take care of the child. It is also a way to show the child you care. Remember that babies don't always sign like adults-they have baby talk too-so have the parents show you what signs the baby uses.
When you sign to a deaf child, look him in the eye and speak clearly as you sign. Don't exaggerate your lip movements. He learned to read them made the normal way. Don't put your hand in front of your face or look away. Many children use a combination of listening, lip- reading and signs to understand.
Until you are better at signing, plan games and activities that don't require much communication. You can play tag, do crafts or look at picture books. Older children might be able to write notes back and forth. Older children might also enjoy teaching you to sign.
Keep an eye on younger children to be sure they don't turn off their hearing aid. They sometimes
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