A Qualitative Inquiry into the Factors that Influence Deaf Children's Early Sign Language Acquisition among Deaf Children in Ghana

Abstract:The linguistic and cognitive importance of early language exposure for deaf children is well reported in the literature. However, most of such studies have been conducted in industrialized countries with less of such studies conducted in developing and nonindustrialized countries such as Ghana. Therefore, hinged on the social interactionist theory of language development, this study explored the factors that influence early acquisition of sign language among deaf children from a low-resource setting in Ghana. Ten mothers of deaf children from these communities were purposively selected for the study. Data was gathered through observation, focus group discussion, and a face-to-face interview using a semistructured interview guide. The data were subsequently analyzed thematically. Parents' knowledge about their children's deafness, sociocultural beliefs, and the parents' interactions with their deaf children at home were found as core potential factors influencing early acquisition of sign language among deaf children in these low-resourced communities. Based on these findings, appropriate recommendations are made for policy and practice.