Sequential Bimodal Bilingual Acquisition : Mediation Using a Cochlear Implant as a Tool

• Most deaf children are born to hearing families. During the last twenty years deaf children, in increasing numbers and at an early age, get cochlear implant (CI), a high-technologic hearing aid device. The aim of this qualitative, longitudinal, single-case study was to explore and describe critical changes in naturalistic, video-observed interactions between deaf family members.In this study a deaf girl, Diana, from birth acquired Swedish Sign Language and received at the age of 35 months a unilateral cochlear implant (CI). Diana eventually developed spoken Swedish as a second language in vocal-aural modality. The study is triangulated with information from the CI-team records spanning the ages 31 months to 8 years. The latter age relates to the time when Diana’s receptive skill of vocal mode was assessed to be 7 years and 11 months. Mediating parameters include the parents’ positive attitude towards meaning-making interactions and encouragement of the child’s own bimodal activity. Diana’s hearing twin brother’s challenging her vocal modality and Diana’s bimodal production seemed to self-scaffold her second language acquisition. Further, her bimodality also scaffolded her family to perceive thus understand her utterances; in addition the other participants’ bimodal interchanges scaffolded her perception. The continued education in sign language seemed to be an asset as Diana could continue her social and intellectual development at the same time as she was acquiring a second language. Reported aspects of mediated actions might also influence a broader field of special needs.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap -- Pedagogik (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences -- Pedagogy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Case-study

sequential bimodal biligual aquisition

Deaf family

cochlear implant

Swedish sign language

spoken Swedish

Fallstudie

tillägnande av sekventiell bimodal bilingualitet

Döv familj

cochlea implantat

svenskt teckenspråk

talad svenska

specialpedagogik

Special Education

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)