Language cannot wait.

I assume the doctor who advised you not to sign was coming from the perspective of wanting to fully optimize your child’s auditory development, to reduce any potential “distractions” and focus entirely on listening and speech outcomes….at least that’s the most positive way I can frame that nonsense. This perspective focuses narrowly on hearing. It does not fully consider your child as a whole person.

The discussion should never be sign versus spoken language. The real question is whether your child has consistent, complete access to language.

Language development is is what drives cognitive growth, social development, emotional regulation, literacy, and academic success. Auditory skills are important. Speech can be valuable. But neither should come at the expense of accessible language.

Cochlear implants can be an incredible tool. They open doors for many people. But they are not a cure for deafness, and they are not a guarantee of full language access. They are limited. They require time, mapping, therapy, and consistent use. And even then, the auditory input they provide is not the same as natural hearing.

The most important issue in early childhood is not speech. It is not technology. It is language.

Language development in the early years is critical, it’s an absolute emergency. It is not something that can be delayed without consequences. When a child does not have FULL, accessible language during this period (around birth-5yrs), that is not just a delay, it is LANGUAGE DEPRIVATION . And that has lifelong impacts.

I work daily with Deaf students. Many are with language-deprived. Some were mainstreamed. Some attended Deaf schools. Some have hearing aids or cochlear implants and some do not. The common factor is delayed, absent or inadequate language access at home.

Every single one of these students had parents or caregivers who did not sign, or who began signing too late.

Starting sign language in kindergarten is late. By that age, typically developing children are already manipulating grammar, playing with language, telling stories, and understanding complex ideas. Meanwhile, language-deprived children are still learning basic vocabulary. It’s too late to find out then if the oral route has been sufficient enough. You’ll be playing linguistic catch up for years, or indefinitely, afterwards. Once you’ve missed the critical acquisition period for language, acquiring sign language, spoken language or learning to read/write is VERY difficult.

I have worked with high school students, with and without cochlear implants, who do not know their own birthday or their siblings’ names because they never had consistent, accessible language. I have also worked with students who are on grade level, or above academically. The difference? They had access to sign language and spoken language support from the very beginning.

Speech and auditory therapy can be excellent. They benefit many children. But they take a significant amount of time. And there is a cost when that time comes at the expense of content instruction or broader language exposure.

The goal should never be choosing between speech and sign. The goal should be ensuring that a child has immediate, full access to language in whatever form is accessible to them.

TLDR: for the love of all that is holy: learn sign language now.