Psychological Development of Deaf Children

This groundbreaking work offers the first comprehensive examination of how deaf children develop psychologically, with particular focus on how their cognitive and social growth differs from hearing peers when raised in language-impoverished environments. Marschark meticulously details the developmental pathways unique to deaf children, especially those with non-signing parents, providing crucial insights into how limited access to communication fundamentally shapes psychological maturation. The book bridges developmental psychology and deaf education, offering evidence-based analysis of how language deprivation affects everything from social skills to cognitive processing.

What distinguishes this research is its specific attention to how interpersonal communication—or the lack thereof—creates divergent developmental trajectories, challenging assumptions that deaf children simply follow delayed versions of typical development. Educators, psychologists, and parents of deaf children will find transformative perspectives here, particularly regarding the critical importance of early language access regardless of modality. Marschark's work fundamentally reshapes our understanding of deaf psychological development, making it essential reading for anyone committed to supporting deaf children's growth and potential.