Auslan and my deaf child
Updated: May 7
The first 7 months of George’s life, after finding out he had hearing loss at birth, Auslan wasn’t mentioned or discussed. It was all about speech therapy, intensive interventions, hearing aids, and Ling sounds. This was stressful as George wasn’t hitting milestones or responding, and then he decided he didn’t want hearing aids.
I would sit in on sessions and watch him not engaging as they wanted, and week after week they just didn’t get anywhere with him, not at the speed they wanted at least. It always ended in, “We have to push harder,” and then I was told to teach him that if he wanted a book, he must wear his aid, and if he took it out, the book went away. Umm excuse me? He had just turned 1. The book was chosen because it was his favourite thing to play with and do. I thought this was so mean and yes, while in the room I nodded and smiled, although in my head I was not agreeing.
I started to like the idea of exploring Auslan as George now had what was called progressive hearing loss. I mentioned this to the AV therapist, and she was quick to tell me that it’s not recommended, that he won’t develop his speech, and that it will confuse him etc. “Ears before eyes” is what she absolutely drilled into me. I hate this phrase so much, even typing it brings up strong emotions.
It was around this time that I put myself through a short course to learn basic Auslan and felt that this was something George should have access to. Wanslea explained that it wouldn’t be easy for me to get this funding and that it was very doubtful I would be able to get it.
“Nonsense, I will get it,” I thought. It’s George’s human right to have access to a language that was designed for Deaf people.
I immediately got on my phone and sent emails and made calls to George’s ENT, audiologist, and the company that teaches Auslan. I received supporting evidence reflecting why it would be beneficial for George and requested an early NDIS plan review, which was accepted due to a change in circumstances. My request was accepted. “I was so pleased.”
I contacted the company I had done my short course through and started Auslan for Families, where they come to the house and teach. I was disappointed to learn that our teacher was hearing. This bothered me, as I felt we should be learning from someone who is either Deaf themselves or someone who has grown up with Auslan as their first language. Why would anyone learn a new language from someone who speaks it as their second? It didn’t make sense to me, but it’s what we had for now, so we did our sessions while I was on the hunt for someone who was a native Auslan user.
Don’t get me wrong, our teacher was very nice, but nice wasn’t going to be able to teach us what we needed. The language, yes, but we also needed to learn the culture and how to incorporate that into George’s life.
I joined a Facebook group and asked questions that I couldn’t find the answers to, such as “How do I sign apple?” or “How do I differentiate grandmother and nanna?” I always deleted these once I got my answer, as I felt it wasn’t my place to “invade” because I didn’t feel like I fit in. Although, I wanted to make sure I asked someone who was native in Auslan, as I felt it was important to learn from those who lived and breathed the language and culture.
I wanted my son to have that, and I can’t provide it, nor can anyone else who speaks English as a first language. I started to introduce basic signs to him as I learnt them, and he just took off with them. Very quickly, I realised that he needed sign language and wanted it, so I made it more accessible to him and actioned it.
George has a degenerative hearing loss and yes, his hearing aids work, although he is choosing sign language and he has language. At 14 months old, he can ask for what he wants, follow basic directions, and is starting to put 2-sign sentences together. Amazing!!
Our biggest worry when we found out about his hearing loss was communication and whether we would be able to communicate with him, and this is no longer the concern. Well, that’s kind of false as he is learning Auslan faster than us, although that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
I was on the train a few weeks ago and a lady was trying to talk to George. She asked me his name, to which I told her, and she was calling him by name although he wasn’t looking at or acknowledging her. She noticed his hearing aids and asked if they work, and I said that they do, although George isn’t overly responsive to spoken language. Her first response was, “When is he getting cochlear implants?”
This question stirred so many emotions I didn’t know I had around it. The fact that someone would view George as broken and needing to be fixed, rather than asking a question like “How does he communicate?” made me feel so angry. I didn’t let it show, of course, and I explained that he doesn’t need them. Although this is the mindset of so many people around me, and I do struggle with it.
I find so much joy in George’s development and communication. He truly is the most amazing little human who has great communication skills, just in a different language — Auslan. His Teacher of the Deaf did her report, and he is at level for his age in communication with Auslan. That’s amazing. I am so proud.
What I find hardest at this point, while sitting here typing, is that some people still don’t feel that excitement or show it at the level I feel it deserves, although everyone has their own worries and concerns, and that’s okay.
We went to our first event over the weekend (2/4/23) for Deaf children and, walking up, I was so nervous as I could see many people signing, but no one that I saw was talking. Every part of me said to get in my car and go home. This fear was because I was now in a minority. I didn’t know Auslan well enough to be confident in a large circle of people signing. I could sign basic greetings and signs related to my home and things I use daily, although being the one without the language among those who do have it is so daunting and scary.
I forced myself to continue walking. After all, it isn’t for me, it’s for my child, which will become for me later. He will experience this too in the hearing community, so I must experience it now so that I can understand him and sympathise when those times come.
We went over to the activity table and George wanted to glue pom poms onto a plate. An interpreter came over and started to interpret for George while the Deaf person was signing. George was looking at the lady talking, although not following any directions or doing the activity. I asked the interpreter to please stop talking and asked the Deaf lady to please sign directly to George, which she did, and instantly George started to follow her directions, watch, and engage. Amazing! How can sign language be discouraged for Deaf children?
I am very excited for George and his future, and my biggest worry to date is that he will take off with Auslan and we will forever be catching up, but I am okay with that because we will still be able to communicate, and we have opened the door for him to have choice as to what he would like to use and how he would like to communicate, and to be proud of who he is, hearing or not.
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