In assessing the adaptation of a family with a hearing-impaired parent, the nurse notes that:

• A. The young children are having difficulty learning new forms of communication.
• B. The infant will require constant supervision.
• C. The young children are acquiring sign language readily.
• D. The hearing-impaired parent is less involved.

Answer: (C)

Adaptation in a family with a hearing-impaired parent centers on how communication is established and maintained. When a parent uses sign language, daily interaction naturally exposes young children to it, so they often acquire sign language readily, which supports clear communication, bonding, and safety within the home. This quick uptake reflects the family’s adjustment to a new communication dynamic and helps ensure the child’s development proceeds with accessible language input. The idea that the infant must be under constant supervision because of the parent’s hearing status isn’t inherent to deafness, and a hearing-impaired parent can be just as involved as any parent, with children learning sign language as a natural part of family life.