Language Deprivation and Deaf Mental Health

Language Deprivation and Deaf Mental Health explores the impact of the language deprivation that some deaf individuals experience by not being provided fully accessible language exposure during childhood. Leading experts in Deaf mental health care discuss the implications of language deprivation for a person's development, communication, cognitive abilities, behavior, and mental health. Beginning with a groundbreaking discussion of language deprivation syndrome, the chapters address the challenges of psychotherapy, interpreting, communication and forensic assessment, language and communication development with language-deprived persons, as well as whether cochlear implantation means deaf children should not receive rich sign language exposure. The book concludes with a discussion of the most effective advocacy strategies to prevent language deprivation. These issues, which draw on both cultural and disability perspectives, are central to the emerging clinical specialty of Deaf mental health.

Neil S. Glickman, PhD, is a former unit director and psychologist with the Deaf Unit at Westborough State Hospital and a former psychologist with Advocates Deaf Services in Framingham, Massachusetts. He is currently on the faculty of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and has a private psychotherapy practice. He teaches and consults about Deaf mental health and applications of cognitive behavioral therapy for persons with language and learning challenges. Wyatte C. Hall, PhD, is an alumnus of the Rochester Institute of Technology and Gallaudet University. After completing a clinical fellowship at University of Massachusetts Medical School, he became a postdoctoral fellow in the University of Rochester Medical Center. His postdoctoral and future faculty-level research focuses on deaf population disparities and the relationship between childhood language experiences and lifelong health outcomes in particular.

Foreword Corinna Hill Introduction. Culture and Disability Neil Glickman and Wyatte Hall 1. Language Deprivation Syndrome Sanjay Gulati 2. Pre-Therapy With Deaf People With Language and Learning Challenges Neil Glickman, Wendy Heines and Melissa Watson 3. Developing Therapy Approaches for Deaf Clients Impacted by Language Deprivation Melissa L. Anderson and Kelly S. Wolf Craig 4. Forensic Evaluation of Deaf Adults With Language Deprivation Robert Q Pollard, Jr. and Meghan L. Fox 5. Communication Skills Assessment for Individuals who are Deaf in Mental Health Settings Roger C. Williams and Charlene J. Crump 6. Using Standardized, Receptive ASL Assessments in Deaf Mental Health Jonathan Henner, Jeanne Reis, Robert Hoffmeister 7. Enhancing Communication Skills in Persons With Severe Language Deprivation: Lessons Learned From the Rise of a Signing Community in Nicaragua Romy V. Spitz and Judy Kegl 8. Interpreting for Deaf People With Dysfluent Language in Forensic Settings: Application of the Integrated Model of Interpreting Joan Wattman 9. Language Development in Children With Cochlear Implants: Possibilities and Challenges Amy Szarkowski 10. Current Laws Related to the Language Development of Deaf Children and Recommended Advocacy Strategies Tawny Holmes