Year 2 – Report 2021

Language and communication

Almost all participants used some spoken language (98%), with 86% of them rating their spoken language as very good or excellent. Around 70% also said they knew some sign language.

Although the ratings of fluency/ competence in BSL were very similar with respect to expressive and receptive language, spoken language ratings were discordant; these young people were very aware that their abilities to understand spoken language were less than their abilities to use spoken language.

We asked participants about the language/communication they used, in comparison with what they might prefer, in a range of contexts. There was little difference between use and preference in their communication with parents. However, in the case of siblings and hearing friends, a preference for the addition of visual elements to communication (whether full BSL or sign supported speech) was very apparent.

With respect to communication in educational settings, where differences between used and preferred reached statistical significance, there was a strong preference for greater use of BSL and speech with signs rather than the usual practice of speech only. This is a remarkable finding, given that the overwhelming majority of the cohort are spoken language users

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