The World of Deaf Infants

"The World of Deaf Infants presents the results of a 15-year research study. Through their research, perhaps the largest long-term comparison of deaf and hearing infants, Meadow-Orlans's team provides a comprehensive and intimate look into the world of deaf infants. For a core group of 80 families that included all four combinations of parent-infant hearing status, data were collected longitudinally at 9, 12, 15, and 18 months, and mother-infant interactions were recorded and observed in both structured and unstructured settings. Mothers' facial, vocal, and tactile behaviors during interactions were related to infants' temperament and stress; mothers' linguistic and communication behaviors, as well as their overall responsiveness, were related to children's language; and the effects of support provided to mothers were evaluated and explored. The results were dramatic, particularly with regard to infant attachment behaviors and the importance of visual attention in the overall development of deaf infants. This comprehensive work provides a foundation on which researchers, teachers, students, and parents can build to further enhance the world of deaf infants."--BOOK JACKET.