From "Communication Mode" to "Language Access Profile" in Research with DHH Children
Year: 2017
Type: preprint
Abstract: For d/Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children, “communication mode” is often included as a predictor of performance across a wide range of developmental outcomes; however, the operationalization of communication mode is highly variable and often falls short of what would be ideal. Here, I argue that DHH children, their families and service providers, and the field as a whole would benefit from replacing the concept of “communication mode” with that of “language access profile”: a term that reflects the child’s cumulative experience with various types of communicative input, beginning at birth. Language access profiles are intended to capture the multidimensional and dynamic nature of DHH children’s early experiences with diverse types of communicative input. I present data from a study that presents a new method of estimating individual language access profiles. I also use hierarchical cluster analysis to organize individuals with similar profiles into coherent, data-driven groups. Results suggest that this is a promising approach with strong potential for use in diverse contexts, including education, clinical care, and research.
Author: Matthew L Hall
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4235763304