The Importance of Sign Language

A Los Angeles-based teacher, Cyrus Shepherd-Oppenheim holds a bachelor of arts in history from the University of Pennsylvania. In his free time, Mr. Shepherd-Oppenheim studies and has reached near-fluency in American Sign Language (ASL).

About 36 million people in the United States will experience some form of hearing loss or deafness. Hearing loss may occur among those exposed to loud sounds over a period of time or on account of hereditary disease or ear injuries. Deafness can also occur at birth; two to three children for every thousand are born deaf in the United States each year. When hearing loss is profound, people often rely on sign language, body language, and hand gestures to communicate.

Many countries have different versions of sign language based on cultural gestures and hand signals. In the United States, those with profound hearing loss typically employ ASL to communicate. An intricate form of communication, ASL contains all the traits of language, including unique grammar and syntax.