What is Language Dysfluency and Why Does It Matter?

~ Because many deaf children are born to families with hearing parents, deaf children have a greater chance of not having access to strong language role models during the critical period of their language development.

~ If their families and caregivers are not fluent in sign language, it also means that the children are exposed to less world knowledge, which impacts their Fund of Information (FOI)/Fund of Knowledge (FOK). 

~ This language dysfluency and FOI deficit can be misinterpreted by clinicians because they erroneously attribute it to mental illness, for example.

A person with language deprivation will typically struggle with:

Concepts of time

Story sequencing/developing a coherent narrative

A sense of self

Cause and effect/ the concept of why?

Experiences of powerlessness/confusion

Rigid modes of behavior

Ability to learn from mistakes (use of generalizations)

Lacks awareness of others' need for context

Lacks theory of mind (understanding other people's perspectives)

Lack of understanding that others don't have the ability to figure out the dysfluent message

Competency to stand trial

Reduced fund of information

Abstract concepts

Difficulty learning

Emotional regulation

Acting out emotions/feelings

Struggles in relationships

Victimization or victimizing

Gulati, Sanjay. (2018). Language Deprivation Syndrome. In Language Deprivation and Deaf Mental Health. Glickman and Hall (Eds.) Routledge.

Compiled by the Alabama Department of Mental Health, Office of Deaf Services (OTJ Training)

Resources:

• Article: Crump, Charlene and Glickman, Neil (2011) "Mental Health Interpreting with Language Dysfluent Deaf Clients," Journal of Interpretation: Vol. 21 : Iss. 1 , Article 3.

Available at: https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/joi/vol21/iss1/3

• Northeastern University's compilation of information on Language Deprivation Syndrome: 

https://www.northeastern.edu/cali/annotated-bibliography/language-deprivation-syndrome/

• An important paragraph from page 5 of the article linked below: 

https://mh.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Understanding-Etiology-Dysfluency-Deaf-Mental-Health.pdf

"Clinicians, regardless of their own sign language fluency, who routinely work with deaf people, are not typically trained in language dysfluencies and specifically how causes of deafness may impact language skills. Hearing clinicians, who must rely on interpreters likely not trained in mental health work, are usually not even aware of the interplay of the underlying dynamics involved and may naively trust that the interpreter is conveying all the information necessary. This can be further confounded by adjudging through hearing norms, what information they do receive. The result is inaccurate diagnoses and ineffective treatment (Crump and Glickman 2011; Hamerdinger and Karlin 2003."

• Language Deprivation has also been linked with increased risk of certain diseases later in life (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, lung disease, and depression & anxiety) as a result of prolonged stress during childhood. This is also known as "Early Life Toxic Stress." (2020)
  

https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(20)30214-2/fulltext

Overview documents that can be downloaded:

Language Deprivation and Language Dysfluency ~

Fund of Information (FOI) ~

What is a Certified Deaf Interpreter? ~

A nice description:  https://www.stratusvideo.com/certified-deaf-interpreters-essential-healthcare/