'I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY': COMMUNICATION, FAMILY, AFFECTION AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT OF DEAF CHILDREN IN EVERYDAY INTERACTIONS

Abstract

This chapter is the result of postdoctoral research by the first author, with support from the deaf community. The research is qualitative in nature, conducted through snowball sampling. It investigated interactions and communication between deaf children and their families, involving interviews with both groups. The aim was to observe the conversations, paying attention not only to what is said, but also to how communication and social interactions occur with the deaf child. The research involved a literature review, document organization, and, through sampling, we identified ten deaf children belonging to nine hearing families. The overall objective was to analyze how these families understand the communicative development of deaf children from the first signs of deafness or the diagnosis. The specific objectives included: Understanding the feelings reported by families; investigating how communication occurs between family members and the deaf child; and understanding how interactions and language development occur in these children, speaking directly with them and comparing their experiences with family accounts. It was found that lack of knowledge, combined with a lack of adequate guidance, has created distance in parental relationships, which negatively impacts the general experience of these deaf children, making them more vulnerable.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2025.029-026