Maternal sensitivity predicts language gain in preschool children who are deaf and hard of hearing

Abstract

The link between maternal sensitivity and child language gain was assessed in a prospective study of 24 hearing mothers and their 24 deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) children (aged 21–30 mo). Maternal sensitivity in dyadic interaction was assessed when children were approximately 2 years old, and expressive language gain was assessed at 2 to 3 years using the Minnesota Child Development Inventory. Sensitivity made significant, positive, and unique predictions of expressive language gain when the effects of maternal education, degree of child hearing loss, dyadic mode of communication, and time between assessments were controlled. Findings indicate the value of affective measures of interaction in predicting language gain. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)