Bilingual Brilliance: Why Deaf Children Thrive with Early ASL Exposure

by Kathleen Marcath

Imagine if your child could grow stronger cognitive abilities, a deeper bond with you, and a vibrant sense of identity all at once. Early exposure to American Sign Language (ASL) makes this possible, and the benefits reach farther than you might imagine.

As we celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month, it's the perfect time to spotlight a powerful truth: language is the key to everything, and ASL unlocks it beautifully for Deaf and hard-of-hearing children. But here's the secret: learning ASL early doesn't just change a child's future. It transforms the lives of parents, families, and entire communities, too.

Today, let’s explore why learning ASL early gives Deaf children — and their families — not just a voice, but a lifelong advantage.

Language and Early ASL Exposure is the Key to Growth and Development

From birth, babies' brains are wired to soak up language like a sponge. When language access is delayed, as can happen for Deaf children who are not provided access to a language, specifically Sign Language, it doesn’t just affect communication; it impacts brain development, emotional growth, and learning potential.

Language deprivation is a real risk. However, the good news is straightforward: early access to ANY language, including American Sign Language (ASL), changes everything.

Studies show that when Deaf children are exposed to rich, accessible language early, especially through visual languages like ASL, they develop healthy, thriving brains just like their hearing peers.

And parents who join their children in learning ASL experience incredible growth, too — expanding their own cognitive growth skills, building emotional resilience, and discovering new ways of seeing the world.

Visual Brilliance

for Visual Learners

Deaf babies are natural visual learners. Their eyes are their superpower, and ASL matches their natural strengths perfectly.

Unlike spoken English, which relies on hearing, American Sign Language (ASL) uses hand shapes, facial expressions, and body movements to convey complete and complex ideas. It’s a whole language, not a translation of English, but a beautiful system.

Research even shows that Deaf children who grow up bilingual in ASL and English (reading/writing) have stronger language skills than children who only rely on spoken language attempts.

Parents who embrace ASL find themselves growing alongside their children — becoming more expressive, more attuned, and more fluent in the universal language of connection.

Language is Love:

ASL Builds the Parent-Child Bond

When families sign early and often, something magical happens:

• Parents and children laugh together.

• Comfort is given through signs of love.

• Bedtime stories are signed and shared.

• Questions are answered with open hands and open hearts.

Many parents shared that learning ASL started with the resources they found through early intervention, such as ASL classes and connections with Deaf mentors (Napier et al., 2007). These initial supports were often just the beginning. Motivated by a desire for their child to truly embrace ASL or grow up bilingual in ASL and English, families continued learning through college courses, videos, and online materials (Chen Pichler, 2021). For many, ASL wasn’t just a stepping stone—it was a long-term commitment to communication and connection.

Parents don't have to be "perfect" signers. Children see love in the effort itself. By learning even simple signs early, you create a home where your Deaf child feels safe, understood, and fully seen. And parents experience something just as powerful: the joy of being fully understood by their child, even across differences they once feared. In learning ASL, many families discover an emotional richness they never knew they were missing.

The Bilingual Advantage

Here’s an extra sparkle of good news: Bilingual kids — including kids bilingual in ASL and English — are brain superheroes.

Research shows that bilingual children often have:

• Stronger memory skills

• Better problem-solving abilities

• Higher flexibility in thinking

• Greater cultural awareness and empathy

  
  

Learning two languages (even one in sign and one in print!) strengthens the brain’s executive functions — the skills that help children focus, plan, and succeed.

Parents who learn alongside their children gain many of these benefits, too — improved cognitive flexibility, sharper memory, and a deeper understanding of diverse ways to communicate and connect.

ASL isn't just a gift to your child. It's a gift you give yourself.

Every Sign is a Victory

If you're a parent, caregiver, or teacher, you don’t have to wait until you "know it all" to start signing with your Deaf child.

Start with the ASL alphabet. Learn a few favorite words: "milk," "play," "love," "sleep." Celebrate each new sign like you would a baby’s first word, because they ARE their first word. Click here for a free ASL Alphabet Chart and start fingerspelling today.

At ASL Picture Books, we believe that every child deserves full access to language, literacy, and love from the very beginning.

We believe every parent deserves to experience the pride, joy, and unbreakable bond that early ASL can create.

You're not just teaching your child words. You're giving your whole family the gift of belonging, empowerment, and unseen possibilities!

Ready to Start?

Download our FREE ASL Alphabet Chart and Coloring Pages to begin learning together! Plus, explore our Favorite ASL Picture Books to fill your home with stories, signs, and smiles.

Every sign you share today builds a bridge to your child's bright tomorrow and a fuller, richer life for you, too.

What the Research Says

Bilingual Brilliance: Why Deaf Children Thrive with Early ASL Exposure

Chen Pichler, D. (2021). Parent motivation in learning ASL: Influences on long-term language planning. Symposium on Sign Language Research and Evaluation, Gallaudet University. https://www.gallaudet.edu

Emmorey, K., Borinstein, H. B., Thompson, R., & Gollan, T. H. (2008). Bimodal bilingualism. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 11(1), 43–61. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728907003203

Hauser, P. C., Lukomski, J., & Hillman, T. (2008). Development of deaf and hard-of-hearing students' executive function. Deaf Studies Digital Journal, 1. https://dsdj.gallaudet.edu

Humphries, T., Kushalnagar, P., Mathur, G., Napoli, D. J., Padden, C., Rathmann, C., & Smith, S. R. (2012). Language acquisition for deaf children: Reducing the harms of zero tolerance to the use of alternative approaches. Harm Reduction Journal, 9(16). https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7517-9-16

Mayberry, R. I. (2002). Cognitive development in deaf children: The interface of language and perception in neuropsychology. In S. J. Segalowitz & I. Rapin (Eds.), Handbook of neuropsychology (Vol. 8, pp. 71–107). Elsevier.

Napier, J., Leigh, G., & Nann, S. (2007). Teaching sign language to hearing parents of deaf children: An action research process. Deafness & Education International, 9(2), 83–100. https://doi.org/10.1179/146431507790559928

Petitto, L. A., Katerelos, M., Levy, B. G., Gauna, K., Tétreault, K., & Ferraro, V. (2001). Bilingual signed and spoken language acquisition from birth: Implications for the mechanisms underlying early bilingual language acquisition. Journal of Child Language, 28(2), 453–496. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0305000901004718

Signing Savvy. (n.d.). The importance of early exposure to American Sign Language with deaf children. Retrieved May 2025, from https://www.signingsavvy.com/blog/235/The+Importance+of+Early+Exposure+to+American+Sign+Language+with+Deaf+Children

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Keep the Journey Going

We hope you enjoyed this story and feel inspired to keep signing with the children in your life. You’re doing an amazing job opening a world of communication for them! Before you go, here are some ways to continue your ASL adventure:

• Read Next: Dive into another inspiring post on our blog to keep learning and celebrating Deaf culture.

  
  

• Author Visits: Book an author visit to bring the magic of ASL to your school or library and inspire your community.

  
  

• Freebie: Get your free printable ASL Alphabet Chart to practice with your little ones – a fun resource to hang on the fridge or classroom wall.

  
  

• Join Our Community: Sign up for our newsletter to receive tips, free resources, and uplifting stories straight to your inbox.

  
  

Meet the Author: Kathleen Marcath

Kathleen Marcath, author of My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me, shares her passion for ASL literacy through vibrant storytelling. Illustrated by Deaf artist Isaac Liang, this award-winning picture book celebrates the joy of communication and every child's limitless potential.

Kathleen Marcath is the award-winning author of My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me and the founder of ASL Picture Books. She’s on a mission to share the joy of bilingual (ASL and English) education, creating stories that help children and families discover the limitless potential of ASL.

Stay in Touch: Follow Kathleen on Facebook and Instagram, or visit ASLPictureBooks.com for more resources and community updates.

Bring the Joy of ASL to Your School!

Want Kathleen to visit your school or library? Inspire young minds with stories, sign language, and the limitless potential of ASL! 

👉 Learn more about Author Visits here.

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