Family Conversation Style: Its Effect on the Deaf Child's Participation

This study investigated the conversations of 10 deaf children and their families at dinnertime and documented types of verbal exchanges, both spoken and signed, among family members. Results were compared with two other studies of deaf children's conversations--with teachers and with mothers during playtime. This study found that the deaf children responded more loquaciously to questions than they did to statements or expressions of ideas; and the children did not have success in continuing topics of conversation. Suggestions are presented to help families engage their deaf children in conversations in more depth.