2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/10/2025 | 10:05 AM - 10:35 AM | Maximizing Language Acquisition with ASL Rhymes | 320
Maximizing Language Acquisition with ASL Rhymes
This 25 min presentation will provide research and practical strategies to help parents and professionals maximize language acquisition with d/hh children using ASL rhymes.
Maximizing language acquisition through the use of rhymes is a well-recognized strategy. Hearing children are immersed daily with children's songs, video programs, nursery rhymes, lullabies and stories that incorporate rhythm and rhyming. Yet, Linguist researcher Leala Holcomb recognized d/hh children do not have full access or benefit from spoken rhymes. Since rhymes are language specific the phonological patterns and word play are often lost in translation. For d/hh children to truly benefit from rhymes they need to be visual.
Neuroscientist Laura-Ann Petitto discovered, “Whether the modality is spoken or signed, the brain responds in the same way in its search for phonological patterning.” In other words, ASL rhymes help to foster language development in a way that is accessible and engaging equivalent to hearing peers. ASL rhyming resources are instrumental in providing a rich linguistic environment for d/hh children.
Recently Deaf educators and researchers have begun to create ASL rhyming and rhythmic resources in response to the demands from teachers and families. There are many fun new resources, techniques and methods that can aid parents not only learn ASL themselves but help them provide a language rich environment for their d/hh children.
- Participants will be able to identify at least two benefits of rhymes and how they help with literacy and language development.
- Participants will be able to identify a rhyme in American Sign Language and create a rhyme in ASL.
- Participants will be able to identify three ASL rhyme resources
Presentation:
3545975_18038LauraBlum.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Laura Blum
(Primary Presenter), About Love and Language, laurabblum@gmail.com;
Blum is a nationally certified ASL interpreter with a Family Science degree, emphasizing Early Childhood Education from Brigham Young University. Blum champions bedtime stories for all children and is the award-winning author of Simple to Sign books.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Royalty options or other ownership interest for Board membership from About Love and Language 501c3.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Personal interest
(Founder of About Love and Language)
(As the author I do recieve royalties)
relationship for Board membership.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with About Love and Language 501c3.
Nature: I am the founder of About Love and Language 501c3 who publishes Simple to Sign books. As the author I do receive royalties.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.