What does this research mean for the field?

Deaf children demonstrate significant growth in discourse-level signed composition across multiple genres over an academic year, with this development being more strongly predicted by grade level and early language access than by chronological age. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

September 5, 2026Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools

Developmental Patterns in Deaf Children's Signed Composition Across Narrative, Informational, and Opinion Genres

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

LHLeala Holcomb LOLeah Oakes

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Longitudinal study reveals discourse organization growth across three signed genres in deaf children, indicating that early language access critically drives signed composition development.

Key Points

To evaluate developmental changes in macrostructural signed composition across narrative, informational, and opinion genres in deaf children, and to identify associated school- and child-level factors.
Assessed 181 deaf children (prekindergarten through third grade) from 11 signing programs in the United States over one academic year.
Collected self-generated signed compositions in narrative, informational, and opinion genres in the fall and spring, indexing signed language productivity via lexical unit counts.
Modeled discourse organization change across time using linear mixed-effects models examining grade level, age, early language access, and demographic characteristics.
Children demonstrated significant growth in discourse organization across narrative, informational, and opinion genres over the academic year.
Grade level served as a stronger predictor of discourse organization growth than chronological age.
Early language deprivation was associated with smaller gains in discourse organization, whereas gender, race, and additional disabilities exhibited minimal associations.

Cite This Study

Holcomb et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9bd4346b95aff0620ebb21 https://doi.org/10.1044/2026_lshss-26-00059

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

September 5, 2026Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools

Developmental Patterns in Deaf Children's Signed Composition Across Narrative, Informational, and Opinion Genres

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

LHLeala Holcomb LOLeah Oakes

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Longitudinal study reveals discourse organization growth across three signed genres in deaf children, indicating that early language access critically drives signed composition development.

Key Points

To evaluate developmental changes in macrostructural signed composition across narrative, informational, and opinion genres in deaf children, and to identify associated school- and child-level factors.
Assessed 181 deaf children (prekindergarten through third grade) from 11 signing programs in the United States over one academic year.
Collected self-generated signed compositions in narrative, informational, and opinion genres in the fall and spring, indexing signed language productivity via lexical unit counts.
Modeled discourse organization change across time using linear mixed-effects models examining grade level, age, early language access, and demographic characteristics.
Children demonstrated significant growth in discourse organization across narrative, informational, and opinion genres over the academic year.
Grade level served as a stronger predictor of discourse organization growth than chronological age.
Early language deprivation was associated with smaller gains in discourse organization, whereas gender, race, and additional disabilities exhibited minimal associations.

Cite This Study

Holcomb et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9bd4346b95aff0620ebb21 https://doi.org/10.1044/2026_lshss-26-00059

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark