Communication is something inherent to human beings and ever since we became a society, many, many years ago, it is one of the things that sets us apart from the rest of nature. Of course, we have evolved a lot since then and today it is possible to communicate with all parts of the world using various forms of language. One of them, in particular, is sign language, used by people with hearing disabilities who are not able to understand sounds and, consequently, reproduce them. There are several sign languages nowadays around the world, but the one used in Brazil is called Libras.
How Did Sign Language Emerge?
Libras is an abbreviation for Brazilian Sign Language, which is used by the vast majority of people with hearing impairment in Brazil and is legally recognized as the official sign language of the country.
Although it was only officially recognized in this way in 2002, with significant movements for this to happen since the 1990s, Libras has existed since the 19th century and was born from the creation of the Institute of the Deaf-Mute, founded in 1857, which is known today as the National Institute for the Education of the Deaf (INES).
Libras emerged from the need to have a way to communicate with people who had hearing impairments, as well as to allow them to communicate with others.
Before this, there was no standard for people with this type of disability, and for this reason, there were many difficulties in coexistence, even though the person might adapt to the more common gestures used by others.
The Importance of Sign Language
The creation of sign language was also important in the sense of uniting people with hearing disabilities somehow, enabling them to speak for themselves and express their desires, as well as demand their rights and show what can still be improved to make their communication with the rest of the world more efficient.
Although it took a long time for sign language to become official, many deaf individuals already mastered Libras before this and already had a formed community.
There are several Libras dictionaries today that contain more than three thousand types of signs, which are used in all regions of the country. It is important to note that the 21st century has brought significant advances for the deaf community and culture.
With the advancement of technology, many people can now communicate in different ways, in addition to bringing people with hearing disabilities closer together who relate to shared experiences.
What Should I Do If My Baby Is Born Deaf?
The inability to hear sounds affects about 5% of the Brazilian population, which means a considerable number of individuals. Deafness is characterized by a problem in any one of the three parts of the ear (outer, middle, and inner), which may be caused by an injury during life or may be a congenital issue.
Deafness in a baby is usually detected through the first tests done in the maternity ward, but it is always necessary to be attentive to signs that the child is not hearing properly to be sure if any problem developed after these tests. Knowing this, the first thing to do is to learn how to identify deafness in a baby.
It is important to know that a deaf baby can develop normally like any other, as long as they receive the attention and monitoring needed from their parents.
When Can a Baby Start Learning Sign Language?
This is a common question, and many believe that a child only learns sign language when older, but the truth is that parents can and should adapt the child as early as possible so they can fully develop their communication skills.
Therefore, communication by signs needs to be practiced from the moment parents notice that their baby has a hearing impairment. A newborn receives various types of stimuli, and their contact with the outside world often depends on the sounds they hear, such as perceiving their mother’s voice, for example.
For babies with hearing impairments, this relationship needs to happen through gestures made by the parents and visual contact, so that this type of sign language becomes natural for the child.
Family Learning
It is important to remember that the introduction of Brazilian sign language should start with the family, so that they can get used to it and so the baby is not confused.
Although it may seem difficult at first, it is something that all parents can quickly grasp and sign language, since a large part of the child’s learning depends on their parents’ mastery of this type of language.
For this, the family needs guidance from professionals who can help with communication as a whole. The child should be referred to a speech therapist specialized in deafness, while the parents should focus on learning sign language, as already mentioned. The child may make some progress with speaking, however, it should not be expected that they will communicate perfectly through speech.
Having a child with a hearing impairment can be a big challenge, but nothing prevents the child from having a healthy, normal, and especially, happy life. Of course, it is the parents’ role to ensure the child is properly stimulated, so that the child’s development is not impaired in any way, but if everything is done properly, the child can certainly have a pleasant life even with a disability.
Today we have much better interaction between deaf people and the world, and among themselves as well, thanks also to sign language. In this light, all sociological and technological advances tend to help even more those with disabilities, both hearing and other types, so that we can have a more equal society.
See Also: Braille – Words at Your Fingertips
Photo: David Fulmer
