Social and emotional development of deaf children and adolescent.
Susan Gregory.

This paper will look at the social and emotional development of deaf children and young people. As well as research studies based on observation, it will also look at the accounts of deaf children and young people themselves, drawn from interviews studies. In looking at social development it will consider early interaction within the family and later firnship patterns. It will also examine the notion of identity for deaf children and young people and the nature of psychological well being. The current interest in quality of life and its assessment will be considered.

The current situation of deaf children and young people will be reviewed briefly looking at recent developments including the increasing use of sign language, with deaf children, cochlear implant programmes ant the impact of neonatal screening on the family and the young deaf child. The apparent contradictions within these developments will be explored.