Addressing Language Deprivation: A Health Emergency That Demands Recognition

Language is a basic human right and a cornerstone of cognitive, emotional, and social development. For children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (HOH), language deprivation—the lack of early, accessible exposure to a complete language—can have devastating and lifelong consequences. Yet, despite its profound impact, language deprivation remains largely overlooked in healthcare and policy frameworks. This needs to change.

Why Language Deprivation Is a Health Emergency

1. Cognitive Impairments: Without early access to language, children can experience delays in brain development, leading to long-term deficits in executive functioning, problem-solving, and memory. The effects are not reversible—early intervention is critical.

2. Emotional and Mental Health Consequences: Language deprivation increases the risk of isolation, frustration, and mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Children who lack language access struggle to express their needs, emotions, and thoughts, compounding their distress.

3. Educational and Social Barriers: A child without language access faces significant obstacles in education, social integration, and economic participation. This perpetuates cycles of disadvantage, limiting opportunities for independence and fulfillment.

4. Health Inequities: Inaccessible healthcare settings and inadequate communication with medical professionals can exacerbate health disparities. Language deprivation directly affects a person’s ability to advocate for their own healthcare needs.

A Call for DSM Recognition

Language deprivation must be recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as its own distinct disability. Doing so would:

- Increase Awareness: Recognition would highlight the urgency of addressing this issue among medical, educational, and policy professionals.

- Inform Interventions: It would provide a framework for diagnosing and addressing language deprivation early, ensuring timely interventions.

- Drive Research: Inclusion in the DSM would spur research into effective supports, tools, and policies to mitigate its impacts.

- Enhance Support Systems: Families and professionals would gain access to resources and support to prevent language deprivation and its cascading effects.

What Needs to Change

1. Bimodal Bilingual Early Intervention: Every Deaf or HOH child should have access to a bilingual pathway combining spoken and signed languages, such as Auslan. This ensures that no matter their hearing ability, they can develop a full language foundation.

2. Accessible Health and Educational Systems: Policies must mandate access to qualified interpreters, Deaf mentors, and assistive technologies to bridge communication gaps and prevent isolation.

3. Recognition of Language as a Human Right: Governments and organizations must commit to ensuring that every child, regardless of ability, has access to a complete and accessible language from birth.

How You Can Help

If you are a researcher, a professional in the field, or know someone who can support PODC in advocating for this issue, please reach out to Suzanne at suzanne@podc.org.au.

We also encourage you to share this post widely so we can work together to get language deprivation acknowledged within the DSM and move towards advancing research, early intervention frameworks, and support for families and children impacted by language deprivation.

Let’s work together to ensure every child has access to the linguistic foundation they need to thrive.