A couple of weeks ago you learned about how our sensory organs engage with the world to create our unique experiences and briefly explored stigma for those who have sensory disability (e.g. blind, deaf). How might these disabilities influence language acquisition if a person with them has a different way of interacting with their world? Language is an essential component of thinking and intelligence and according to the National Science Foundation (2011), here are some key findings on the advantages of early visual language for all children: The brain is most receptive to language acquisition during "sensitive periods" early in a child's development. Deaf and hard of hearing children who receive early intervention services have been found to have better language outcomes. High levels of family involvement have been found to produce greater language development outcomes in deaf and hard of hearing children. Acquiring a complete first language during early childhood is critical for later reading comprehension. Learning two languages (that is, American Sign Language and English) is advantageous for deaf and hard of hearing children. A child's language foundation is an important factor in spoken language development. (You can read their full report here if you want to go into depth.)