Research shows that reading out loud to a child has several benefits including but not limited to increasing the child’s vocabulary and comprehension, helping develop sustained attention and strong listening skills, enhancing cognitive development, improving language acquisition and emotional regulation, as well as helping children learn new words, concepts and ideas. Additionally, reading to a child before bedtime enhances language proficiency, imagination, visualization skills, and overall literacy.

But what happens when a child is hearing and the parents are Deaf? In homes where American Sign Language (ASL)—a visual language—is the primary mode of communication, how can children receive the benefits of hearing a spoken story during bedtime?

More importantly, how can we ensure Deaf parents support their hearing children in literacy, language acquisition, and a love for reading?