Raising a Deaf Child - My Parents Share How They Found Out I Was Deaf & How They Raised Me
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Finding out your baby / child is deaf can be devastating- but it’s not the end of the world. In this video, my parents share their experience of finding out I was born deaf and their journey raising me in the hearing world.
Did you know that many hearing parents of deaf children do not learn sign language to communicate with their deaf child? Yeah, really!! I was really lucky that mine did. Growing up, I had so many people- like teachers, interpreters, people working in the deaf education field, etc. tell me all the time how lucky I was to have my parents learning sign language to communicate with me. They were amazed at how well my parents handled having a deaf baby and raising a deaf child with no prior knowledge about the deaf community and sign language.
I, myself, can’t imagine what it’s like to find out that your baby was born deaf. But I DO know that it’s not the end of the world. I was born deaf and was raised by hearing parents and I turned out okay. ;-) And my hope is that this video will reach new hearing parents to share and encourage that it’s not the end of the world if your baby is deaf. It will have some tough moments, but it’s all about perspective and learning how to adjust and live a little differently.
I wanted to interview my parents to share their story- what it was like finding out that their baby was deaf and what it was like to raise a deaf child - and also to share what they decided to do and why they made the decisions they made in hopes that hearing parents of deaf babies / children would find this and be encouraged and help them make more informed decisions. Back then, my parents didn’t have anyone to ask, & couldn't even Google it- as there wasn’t internet in 1989 when I was born. My hope with this video is that hearing parents can make more informed and educated decisions for their deaf baby / child.
I hope you enjoyed the interview!! :)
If you have any questions related to the interview video or just questions in general, feel free to comment below in the comment section. :)
ALSO- please note that this is an interview, NOT a sign language lesson. My parents’ signing is not perfect as my mom said in the interview video. They’ve made some mistakes in signing and I even signed some signs wrong ON PURPOSE so that they would understand me!! ;-)
For basic American Sign Language (ASL) lessons, watch the 25 Basic ASL Signs video series:
Part 1-
• 25 Basic ASL Signs For...
Part 2-
• 25 Basic ASL Signs For...
Part 3-
• 25 Basic ASL Signs For...
More interview videos coming soon!! Be sure to subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss a video!! :)
P.S. If you’re on Instagram too, come join us on @SignedWithHeart and learn a sign or two everyday. :)
I love what the dad said about his daughter being his best teacher, made me tearful.
It's a warm feeling to see the parents staying together as a team.
You are a gift from God as you are. My wife and I are both Deaf too. We both had the same frustrations of our parents trying to raise us as if we were hearing and not Deaf. Of course that didn’t work and caused more problems for us as kids because of the isolation of no one around us signing and the parents thought everything is okay. It worked out okay as we finally meet Deaf people and just immersed ourself completely in the Deaf world and culture. We felt normal finally.
god? Why did god make her deaf? Sure she is a good person so she is a gift but not from god.
Why would god give anyone a disability?
@@reflexionesdelabiblia6711 so you’re invalidating a Deaf person’s experience of being isolated from everyone around them because of an actual language barrier to you having no friends as a kid just because you moved a lot????? Think you missed the message, try again.
@@reflexionesdelabiblia6711 i’m coming back again because your comment is so ridiculous oh my god. How and why would a deaf child tell other *hearing* children to LEARN sign so they can be talked to???? You literal carrot
@@beckalee1743 you’re so hateful. All I said was that they could encourage others to learn their language. More people should learn sign language. It’s a beautiful language and opens up so many doors to communications and friendships in ways not knowing sign couldn’t when knowing dead people. Man alive are you hateful.
@@David-gj9qr
A gift of giving us someone that shares her experiences, that the deaf can learn from. The hearing can also learn from.
I about started crying when your mom answered the hardest part of raising a deaf child. I know its true. My eldest isn't deaf but he has other disabilities and I wish all the time I could take them away so he never suffers anything
From cerebral palsy to this beautiful, sweet and smart lady that teaches ASL like nobody on youtube 😊😊👍❤️ I love your story Ashley! So proud of you ❤️
i cant press the like button enough.
I didn't think she has cerebral palsy!! ? just that she is DEAF
@@gloriaklopping8713 She doesn't. As I understood it, they thought that at first, but then she ended developing typically, it was just her hearing that didn't.
@@j.johnson7296 that is right! they thought she had it! thanks
Hai
This is so heartwarming
Thanks, Julia!! :) Glad you enjoyed the interview!! Thanks for watching!!
❤❤❤❤
Hey Ashley, I’m so glad you finally got around to doing this. I’m a mom to a deaf 8 year old and really identify with your parents. When your mom was talking about how you wouldn’t hold your head up and how you wouldn’t crawl I wanted to cry. That was Isabella. The only difference was that I found our right at birth something was wrong with her hearing. But your parents were lucky that they weren’t in this day and age with so much information. At times having so much to choose from confuses you. There are still a lot of politics when it comes to deaf education. It took us a long time to reach where we are now. My 8 year old attends a mainstream program that provides a teacher of the deaf, interpreters, and other kids who all sign. We are truly blessed. Now we are working on getting an interpreter so she can understand when we go to church. Thank you for being so awesome! I look forward to seeing more content from you. 🤟🏻
Thank you so much for this! We just found out our baby is deaf and your parents reaction was just the same as ours. When your mom said she wish she could trade places’, that made me cry! That’s how I feel! Thank you for this video
God gave us hands and that is a blessing. There is still communication. There is still a way . I am glad I have vision only because of contacts. My vision is bad... I have lived and worked with the deaf...I know a deaf man near by. They live their lives well and have it easier than completely blind and vision impaired non correctible... Count your blessings.
I love how you and your family sign. I'm still learning ASL and you all sign at the perfect speed for me to understand. It's still conversational but clear.
This family is a great example of what is missing in many families nowadays. Its good to see this.
Just finished watching this. Was so amazing! I think all hearing parents of Deaf children should watch it. Now we need someone to interview you on what it’s like growing up in a hearing family. 😁👍🏼
Thank you so much for sharing this story , I have been inspired to become an interpreter and adopt deaf and mute children when I grow up ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks so much for taking the time to watch the interview video!! :) Aw, that's sweet that you're considering adopting deaf children someday!!
Erin, lovely you want to adopt. FYI,the term used is 'Deaf' vs "deaf and mute" The term 'mute' is no longer used,
But if you were hearing but unable to speak would you not be mute? Or is there a different term used these days? I thought what she was meaning was deaf children and/or mute children as well.@@cindynevins1753
scott edwards-gildersleeve The term would be “nonverbal” :)
scott edwards-gildersleeve Signing is speaking just with your hands. Mute means not speaking. Saying they're mute means devaluing sign language as an equal language and is therefore discriminating. Please refrain from saying mute. If you want to distinguish between the too the correct term is oral vs non-oral speaking.
This video had me in tears. Especially the part where you are sharing with your parents about how much you are glad that they are your parents… and their response about loving you so much and how they will would choose you every time if given the chance to choose a daughter out of a billion girls. - And the way they talk about how their faith got them through the challenging times… knowing that the Lord was walking them through it all… Just so incredibly encouraging. -- We found out last year that our preschooler is profoundly deaf and we have been working so hard to learn ASL and to teach her so that we can have a deep loving relationship with her. God is definitely sustaining us. It’s so scary not knowing how much she understands and not being able to predict what her future holds. I fear that she won’t know how much we love her and that we won’t be able to do enough for her as parents because we are so new to being the parents of a deaf child. But seeing this video has given me so much hope! Thank you for sharing your story!
Thank you so much for sharing such an intimate story! We went through similar challenges when our son was born. The pediatrician told us our son would be partially deaf and had facial deformities, they said he would have speech problems the rest of his life. God had other plans! Our son functioned normally, was in a rock band that won many awards and he met his future wife in the process. He did suffer much in middle school and high school because of his deficiency and his looks. It is sad that kids can be so cruel! But our faith and had amazing help along the way- that supported us. We serve a mighty God and miracles come in many different ways. We are overcomers. Bless you for sharing your heartfelt story. YOU ARE ALL INSPIRATIONAL.
You have a beautiful family reflecting Gods image through faith. May God richly bless you all.
Your family is beautiful. You can see how much your parents love you (and how much you love them). Truly inspiring 💙
Unfortunately it's so rare nowadays to find people like your parents but it's a huge testament to their characters to be so loving and authentic. Honestly, they're absolutely incredible people.
Your dad is such a sweetheart I can’t. He reminds me so much of mine
Your parents are very good persons 😢😢 you are lucky to have them still around 🙏 I am so into learning ASL ❤️ I won’t stop until I can have a decent conversation with a deaf person, this is now an inclusive world, we have to make everybody feel part of it😊❤️👍
Wow. Seriously praise God for your and your family's story and journey. Amazing that He provided a way and continues to cover you all with His Grace and favor! God is Good!
her laugh is absolutely adorable!!!
Ashley I loved this video and thank you for taking the time to not only make it but caption it. It is very much appreciated.
I have severe to profound hearing loss in both ears and have worn hearing aids since I was 6 years old. I also went to regular schools but never learned sign language. I am learning now through your channel and school. Anyways, I really think that this shows that God never gives us anything we can’t handle. He gave you the perfect parents/family to raise you into the amazing person you are now. God bless and Merry Christmas!!
I love that you give God the glory this is an amazing life story thank you for sharing i’m going to be taking American sign language in the fall and I’m really excited your videos have help me learn some of the basic things
The dad being so happy when he said he cut the cord was so cute !
2:53 😅 and that laugh from Ashley is so great
Your mom is soo pretty, and I noticed she also has a accent, does she speak another language ?
Jill godfrey I think Spanish because her sister mentioned learning Spanish in another video
I noticed it too. I even thought she might be from the Philippines 🇵🇭 but maybe not.
she is mexican ;-)
She has like a Puerto Rican accent
Jill godfrey I'm guessing Tagalog.
I love seeing parents learn a totally different language for their children, to me it shows how much they love and are willing to adapt and change for their child
This was just so emotional, I don't know anybody that is deaf. I would like to learn sign language and one day be able to make friends within the deaf communicate or help someone.
God Bless your family.
I don't know how I came upon your videos but God knows everything and He knew I needed to see how great He is. We had to see our little boy leave this earth almost a year ago. He was only 16 months all. When your mom said "we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength"....nothing more true than that. Family is the most important thing and even not knowing you and your family personaly, I feel so happy to see you guys as a strong united family full of love. Thank you for your videos. They have lifted my spirits and blessed my live. God bless.
@10:50 I just burst into tears. What amazing wonderful parents you have. I love everything about you. thank you for posting these.
A lot of water came out of my face on this video, I really love and appreciate this
What a story of love.
Ashley your parents are very patient you can just tell glad you had such amazing support growing up, love your channel. ❤
Thank you Ashley. My son is 8 and half months and has failed all his screening tests since birth, I will take him for ASSR/ABR testing to determine the extent of his hearing loss. Your interview with your parents helps with my anxiety, because like your parents we want the best for our children. Thank you and all the best.
I watched the whole video and although it was almost 40 minutes time flew by! Thank you so for making this great video and thanks to your parents for sharing their experience and their thoughts. They raised a great child and turned it into a wonderful woman . I’m happy to have learned today sign language.. just a few words but it is all thanks to you ❤️
You've got the BEST PARENTS!!! Just watching how patient and understanding your mother is, and how loving and very involved in ASL your father is, it warms my heart, and it encourages me to learn ASL further. Thank you so much for this interview, I believe it is very educational for so many young people out there!
It’s wonderful to see how much your parents love you! You are very blessed with parents who worked hard to learn to communicate with you and give you what they felt was best. I know this story can be rare sometimes in the deaf community. 😊
Your parents are so wise. They are absolutely right about young children needing parents more than class mates or friends.
It's so cool that your mum is signing at a pace I can actually understand. Good for learning 😇
I love how proud your parents are of you😊
I can't communicate this much clear even with words and they are communicating without words.
Sign language is a language. They are communicating with words. Just not orally but through signing.
So amazed at where life has taken you... and I'm grateful we had parents that did their best & loved you so well to give you the best chance at a wonderful life!
Your dad fingerspells like a BOSS! #goals As a beginner in ASL I love watching your videos!
Thank you for sharing these interviews! My son is hard of hearing with cochlear implants and deaf without, and we are leaning to sign, but it's rare for me to find conversational sign videos that I can follow along with! And a story that I can identify with very well too! It's very helpful. Thanks again!
Wow!! Your parents is very sweet, caring and loves.
Lovely; I so want to give the three of you a hug for this
I think your family is lovely. I really appreciate their faith,thank you for sharing !
It's key to have parents. If one is no longer there, having one parent is better than no parents. I appreciate your videos and your continuations of teaching people the life of a person.
Can't wait to sit down and watch the whole thing! You put so much work and effort into this! Thank you! 💗
Thanks for that
This was humbling for me to watch. To hear your parent and the love they have for you. It brings me great joy when I see people who know Christ. Peace and Love to you and your parents from New Zealand.
I cried so much at this video. Thank you Ashley, and parents for sharing your story. God is faithful-- and I see Him all over your story!!! 😍❤️
My Wife and I (Hearing)are pastors to the Deaf in Guyana, South America. We are having a workshop soon for Parent/Child Connect (theme for this years Deaf Awareness Week). Thank you so much for this video. I will be sharing this with the parents.
WoW! I love these videos with your parents. This was so wholesome and sweet! I love how humble you and your parents are and most of all the love for God you guys have and the love for each other!! Well done!! God bless you guys and keep up the good work!
This is such a great story. Thank you so much for sharing. I can only imagine how tough it must have been being the only deaf child in school. That was probably very lonely. It seems like your family was there for you. Thank you again for sharing.
Oh my! When you told your parents that it was God and his love in your parents that saved your life. What a beautiful testimony. Brought tears to my eyes. May he continue to bless you and your family. Thank you for sharing such intimate details!
Family love is the best. Those are some sweet loving parents.
Holy mackerel man I didn't think this video would make me cry, what's wrong with me?
Great family Ashley thank you for sharing them on your platform and yourself. ❤
I came across this video the day after my son was diagnosed with profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and it was a god sent. It made me feel so good to know I related to your mom and how she felt as a mother and protector. Thank you for sharing and thank you for your amazing videos. They have been helping me learn sign language. God bless you and your family
Loved the video! Just so you know, Ashley...middle school was hard and very lonely for just about everybody. Hearing or not.
I think it would be so much harder for a deaf person in a predominately hearing school environement. I just think if I couldn't hear and others didnt know how to communicate with me, it would be hard to make friends. At least thats what I think. But yes Middle school is hard for most kids (awkward age). I got braces and glasses in middle school lol UGH
Ashley you are soooo amazing and mom & dad there is no words to describe the love you both have for your family.
This was SO interesting. Your parents are just awesome!
Wow this is so beautiful, God is SO good! And you are an amazing young woman with so much love and a heart to serve others, it’s very obvious. God bless you and your family. ❤️
Dont know how i came across with this channel but glad i did. Im a spanish and im learning spanish sign language. Im just in my 4th month but i absolutly love it. Dont know any deaf person beside my teacher.
LOVE your family they are great.
What a wonderful interview! Your parents are are clearly very supportive and loving. 💕
Your mom and dad sign so well!!
So sweet. They are such amazing parents. They work as a team.. They seem so smart.. Not immature type of adults. I love your family.
This was a beautiful interview. Thank you for sharing your family story. You have wonderful parents.
I recently found your channel and have felt a deep respect for you and your family grow within me. I love your personal vlogging. I know you deal with nervousness and anxiety when filming, but you are not alone Ashley. As a musician myself, I constantly deal with nerves and anxiousness when I perform on stage. Especially when I try to record music in a studio, I often need many takes to get it right and rarely release my music because I'm not happy with how it turned out. Somehow I feel like I understand your frustration, if even only a little bit. Please do continue to do personal vlogging as much as you can. My heart feels such a new found love for you because I recognize your struggle with depression, and your efforts toward living with intention and pushing through the hard days. I'm right there with you. You are never alone.
Beautiful caring parents, u r blessed. 🙏🏽
Thank you for your openness about raising a deaf child. I have shared this with my daughter who has a deaf son, my grandson. Praise God for your testimony!
I took ASL couple of years ago and I still do self study with books but when came across your video, I decided to subscribe and learn more. Love the segment with your sisters.
Such loving and supportive parents 😭
I love this! Thanks so much for sharing this. I'm a college student who's learning ASL, and this was super helpful and inspiring. I used to work with deaf people a little when I was a missionary in DC, and I learned a bit there, but I'm excited to learn even more now. Thanks for helping! God bless you!
Wow! This interview is so emotionally. I am so happy to see this. Thx a lot for your time. Best wishes for your family :)
Thank you for a touch into your lives. We lacked so much then, had to learn as we lived.
This educational video will be very informative for years.
Please thank your parents. I would be so proud of them.
Just amazing parents! Perfect relationship I can feel in my heart about you all. Thank you for sharing something so incredibly beautiful
I can’t thank you enough for being so honest in your channel this video is very sweet and I’m also learning new signs while learning about my favorite ASL TEACHER. Haha love you never quit striving on what you’re doing enjoying everything you do ❤️
You can actually talk as well! I could understand what you were talking without reading the captions. You are actually blessed! Nothing shall stop you from achieving what you want! Lots of love to you Ma!
Thank you for sharing you story, Ashley (and Ashley's mom and dad!) :) You sure are loved
25:14 I had tears during that part. May God be always with you and your family 🙂.
I really enjoyed this video. The way your parents love you is inspiring. I almost cried when your mom said she wish she could trade places with you omgosh how sweet. Your parents are not interpreters and do not have to sign perfect. They just have to sign good enough for their child to understand. They sign good enough to communicate with their daughter. Good job mom for returning to school just for her baby. Simply amazing. Good job dad for taking time to learn. Not many men do that in your situation. You are a special man. My question is do the other 2 sisters sign?? Great video. Beautiful family.
I loved watching this! Your parents are so amazing and God bless you and your family always 💖
Thank you for taking all the time to do CC! Saw the updates on progress on Instagram
I have always been interested in learning sign language to communicate with more people and never got around to it but I bought a book last week and started teaching my kids (5 yrs old and 7 yrs old) and in one day we all learned the alphabet and numbers and a few basic greetings!
They think it’s so much fun and want to teach their friends so they can communicate with any other children that are hard of hearing or deaf.
Last night we found your UA-cam channel and my kids were amazed to see you signing.
We watch your lessons often so we can learn more.
Thank you for sharing your story and your knowledge! It shows your parents did a great job raising you.
Wow. This was beautiful,girl. :) You're truly an inspiration. Thanks for sharing your family's story.
Thanks for sharing your story. Beautiful voice in sign and spoken, thanks
Caroline Hebert
I love you Ashley! You and your parents... y’all inspire me every time I see your videos to do my very best to integrate into the deaf community!! 😊❤️
I’m so glad that they gave you the opportunity to learn sign language because what I am learning these days is that there are many, especially in underdeveloped countries that don’t ever get to learn sign language. How hard that must be for them and lonely! I am really glad I found your channel and I’m excited to see all your videos.
What beautiful parents to choose to learn about the deaf community and to learn to sign. So exceptional.
Such a great video, hard to hold my tears ❤️ Pray for you sister 🙏
Wonderful and very informative video, thank you to you and your parents for sharing this part of your journey. Many blessings to your entire family.
I’m so glad you had a great family and you were also patient with them too so it worked out perfectly.
Your parents are true gems.
What a beautiful video! Ashley, middle school was miserable for all of us I think … and I can hear!
You're parents are amazing they did an awesome job 👏🏼👏🏼 great video by the way... 👍🏼😎. Yahi.
This is my second comment, but I just saw someone else post about this which I wanted to thank you for as well. Thank you for posting the captions as well, so I may fully understand the interview which I learned A LOT from. ❤️
I'm studying to be a speech therapist and currently taking sign language classes at university. Learning ASL has always been something I've wanted to do but my high school didn't offer it. I'm really glad I'm finally doing it, the language and culture has always fascinated me, and I hope in the future to help deaf or other non-verbal kids in schools feel involved and accounted for. Anyway, found your channel while looking for ASL conversations to watch, to see how much i can follow along. Very interesting to hear from your family and watch ya'll communicate.
Faith and God might've had a hand in this, but it's definitely your parents who managed to raise you up to be the amazing individual you are today. I hope that their modesty doesn't make them overlook their own achievements.
Beautiful story. I've always loved the deaf and hard of hearing community and I've always had an immense respect for you all. I've taken the time to teach myself ASL and now I'm starring as a signing character in the play The Taste of Sunrise. It's a beautiful play and it really sheds light on the D&HH community
What tremendously wise and excellent parents ! You are all blessed.
Thanks so much for sharing this, and all your videos. Big help!