Children with hearing impairments typically have which vocabulary development characteristic?

Children with hearing impairments generally experience slower overall vocabulary growth compared to their peers with typical hearing. This is primarily due to their reduced access to spoken language during critical developmental periods. Exposure to language is crucial for vocabulary acquisition, and children with hearing impairments may not receive the same level or quality of auditory input, which can lead to deficits in both the quantity and quality of their vocabulary.

Limited access to spoken language can result in difficulties with understanding and using new words, especially in more abstract contexts where language may not be directly related to concrete experiences. Vocabulary growth not only relies on the ability to hear speech but also on interaction with caregivers and peers, which provides essential models for language use. This slower development may manifest in various areas, including fewer words known, challenges in learning new vocabulary, and a reliance on more concrete terms rather than abstract or complex concepts.

Consequently, educators and speech-language pathologists often implement targeted strategies to facilitate vocabulary development through visual aids, sign language, or other supplementary communication methods to support the language acquisition process in these children.