Sign Language vs. Cochlear Implants: Why We Chose Both

When the audiologist completed Bode's ABR and told us he had profound sensorineural hearing loss, she handed us a box of tissues and gave us a few moments alone. We needed them. No matter where I stand today, at that moment, I felt an overwhelming sadness. When she returned to discuss our next steps, she explained some families choose cochlear implants while others learn ASL. Both paths were unfamiliar to us; we didn’t know anyone who was deaf. She mentioned ASL is a complete language—something I had heard of but knew little about. Then, she described cochlear implants and how technology now allows many deaf individuals to hear. Here’s the quick rundown on cochlear implants: it has two main parts—one worn on the outside and another that’s surgically placed inside the ear. The outside part picks up sounds, turns them into signals, and sends those to the internal part. That inside piece stimulates the auditory nerve directly, which tells the brain there’s sound. It’s not the same as natural hearing, but with practice, many kids learn to understand speech and enjoy everyday sounds.

We knew right away we wanted to explore cochlear implants and see if Bode was a candidate—and, after several months, we were thrilled to learn that he was (read more about that journey here). Our audiologist guided us through a plan, and as soon as we got home we set up appointments and consulted with specialists.

Shortly after that initial audiology appointment, we began working with Bode’s early intervention team. Those first meetings were overwhelming, with a flood of new faces and an endless stream of information. This team of women wanted us to participate in a new program, the WEII Plus Program, (Wyoming Early Intervention Initiative.) This program has provided us with invaluable coaching, education, resources, and strategies to make informed decisions about Bode’s development, especially in communication, language, social-emotional, and literacy skills. It became the backbone of our journey and changed the course of our family’s future for the better.

We learned that roughly 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents, and only about 25% of those parents learn sign language. That means most parents can’t fully communicate with their child when hearing devices aren’t in use. I couldn’t imagine not being able to connect with my child at any moment, and I hope this inspires you to start learning sign language right away. It’s a step that brings lifelong connection and ensures that no moment, big or small, is lost.

We quickly became students, guided by a dedicated Teacher of the Deaf who began showing us how to communicate with our son. Week after week, she visited our home—and she still does—to help us grow in our journey. One of the most profound lessons we learned was that we all "hear" with our brains, not our ears. The brain doesn’t differentiate between languages, whether it's English or ASL. For me, as a hearing person, my ears gather sound, and my brain interprets it. With sign language, our eyes gather information, and the brain deciphers it in the same way. Remarkably, the same area of the brain activates for spoken and signed language. Isn’t that fascinating?! This understanding underscored how crucial it was to provide Bode with language as early as possible.

Language acquisition from birth to age 5 is so important because our kids’ brains are soaking everything up like little sponges. During these early years, they’re set up perfectly to pick up language, which makes those everyday chats, stories, and interactions so valuable for building their communication skills and overall development.

Kids who are surrounded by language, whether it's spoken words, sign language, or a mix of both, tend to grow better vocabularies, learn to solve problems more easily, and connect with others more confidently. These early language experiences set the stage for things like reading, school success, and even how they express their feelings as they grow up.

For our deaf or hard-of-hearing little ones, getting access to language—spoken, signed, or both—early on is even more important to keep them on track with their development and make sure they don’t fall behind. The right language exposure helps them thrive and grow right alongside their peers.

We began with the basics, learning to sign as we read children’s books to Bode and incorporating signs into daily routines like diaper changes, bath time, meals, and bedtime—activities we repeated countless times each day. At just 9 months old, Bode signed for the first time, and our excitement was immeasurable. From that moment, his vocabulary took off and has only continued to grow. During his most recent developmental assessment, he scored higher in cognitive development than 81% of his hearing peers!

In the beginning, my goal wasn’t to become fluent in ASL; I wasn’t thinking that far ahead. All I wanted was to connect with my child in the best way possible. But as time has passed, I've come to understand just how important it is to strive for fluency—not just for me, but for him. His cochlear implants are incredible, and he loves wearing them, but there are moments when he doesn’t, or when technology fails us, or like the time I forgot the spare batteries and the set he was wearing ran out power. We were picking family up from the airport and going straight into Grand Teton National Park, so he didn't have his cochlears the entire day! In those moments, I want him to know that no matter what, his dad and I are always there, ready to communicate and support him.

  

Becoming fluent in ASL is a journey that can take 5 to 8 years, so when I feel behind, I remind myself that I am exactly as fluent as my 2.5-year-old needs me to be right now. And as he grows, so will my skills. What I might struggle to express in sign at this stage, I can bridge with spoken language. This is why I value both approaches so deeply—together, they allow us to connect fully and share a language that is as versatile as it is meaningful.

There used to be a big worry among parents and even some professionals that teaching a deaf child sign language would stop them from learning to speak, especially after getting cochlear implants. The idea was that using signs would make the child depend on them and not put effort into speech. But now we know that’s just not true! Research and real-life experiences have shown that learning sign language early can actually help with language development, including spoken language. It gives kids a strong foundation to build on, making communication easier and boosting their confidence as they learn to listen and speak. In fact, being bilingual in sign and spoken language is a big win for kids and opens up even more opportunities for them.