Centre for Language and Communication Science Research
  1. DOTDeaf
Language and Communication Science

Reading and Dyslexia in Deaf Children

About the Project

Many deaf children have reading difficulties, but there are no tests designed especially for deaf children that can be used by teachers to measure deaf children's reading levels. Given the genetic basis of dyslexia among hearing children, it is likely that a proportion of deaf children will also be dyslexic. However, dyslexia among deaf children is under-researched and poorly understood, consequently a diagnosis of dyslexia in a deaf child is rare. This has implications for the support that deaf children receive, in comparison to the support provided for hearing children with dyslexia.

Read the team's most recent briefing paper on City Research Online.

Our research has collected data on deaf children who use spoken and sign language. We are no longer recruiting to this study.

Study aims

Our research has collected normative data on selected tests of reading and reading-related skills from a representative sample of deaf children with different communication preferences, spoken or sign language. These data will be of use to teaching staff in schools who wish to assess deaf children's reading abilities. We have been able to identify a dyslexic profile amongst some poor deaf readers. We have also identified strategies that may help deaf children learn to read.

Read our latest research paper.

Dr Rosalind Herman, Project Leader
LCS Division, City, University of London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB
E: r.c.herman@city.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)20 7040 8285

The project was run by Ros Herman, Penny Roy, Fiona Kyle and Catherine Barnett with funding from the Nuffield Foundation.

Download the presentations from our Literacy Development in Deaf Children event in November 2015:

Download presentations from our teacher workshop on Putting Research Findings on Deaf Children's Literacy into Practice in May 2016:

Download presentations from our workshop on Enhancing Literacy Development in Deaf Children in June 2017: