Research examining interactions between mothers and children with hearing loss was reviewed from a dialectical perspective. Although dyads with shared hearing status (i.e., in which mother and child are both deaf or both hearing) use many similar and effective strategies for initiating and maintaining interactions, dyads of hearing mothers and children who are deaf are often characterized by asynchrony, excessive maternal control, and child dependence. A variety of strategies was identified by which deaf mothers accommodate their children's need for visual language input. It is proposed that an intervention approach emphasizing these strategies is more effective than focusing on the shortcomings of children with hearing loss. Several strategies aimed at promoting child participation and language development are suggested.
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