Title: ESRC CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF DEAFNESS, COGNITION AND LANGUAGE – PHASE II 2011 TO 2016
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: DCAL has achieved the objectives of its original scientific plan: 1. The publication of significant theoretical findings 2. The establishment of DCAL as a focus of collaboration within the scientific community and with potential users of its scientific programme, both nationally and internationally 3. The development of links with users 4. Knowledge transfer through publications, seminars, and conferences 5. The development and implementation of a publicity strategy for the Centre to bring new findings to the attention of both the academic community and of non-academic users, particularly the Deaf community 6. Capacity-building, through the training of postgraduate research students. The landscape of deafness research has changed markedly since DCAL began work in 2006 and DCAL has played an important part in that change. The unique status of deafness as a model system for exploring language, cognition, and neuroscience is now widely recognised, and technological developments are changing the experience of deafness. DCAL's new research plan reflects these important shifts. The two questions that will drive our research in the next five years are: How is communication shaped by deafness and the use of sign language? How do deafness and early language experience impact on cognitive functions beyond language? The first of these continues our research agenda of the first five years; the latter represents an important extension. For both questions we will consider the effects of deafness, delayed language development and sign language use across the life span, studying children, adolescents and adults, including those with cochlear implants, and investigate similarities and differences between such groups as native and late signers. Five strands build upon the research we have carried out to date: Sign Language and Language Change; Foundations of Communication, On-line Communication, Visual Cognition, and Cognitive Control. Our research plan also reflects the expertise of the new team of directors, with strong interdisciplinary interactions between psychologists, linguists and neuroscientists, and the availability of new research methodologies. Research into language acquisition, reading, cognitive control and working memory contributes to our understanding of how learning occurs when individuals are born deaf. Research on developmental and acquired neurological and neuropsychological impairments in deaf people (dementia, motor impairments, autism, schizophrenia) forms a basis for improved clinical interventions for a population with unequal access to health services. Our research includes children, adults and the aging population, enabling us to explore development across the lifespan in deaf individuals. Access to education, health care, and civil rights for deaf people can depend on good interpreting services. Research with BSL interpreters will contribute directly to improving provision. The BSL reference grammar and dictionary will provide invaluable information to researchers, professionals, and deaf children and adults. Technological advances will allow us to put resources into a format appropriate for the Deaf community using a visual-spatial language: electronic and internetaccessible. There is a great need to train new researchers from a range of disciplines in the additional skills needed to work in deafness and sign language research. We are committed to a programme of postgraduate training of researchers, especially to enable members of the Deaf community to help shape the future research agenda in this area. Research at DCAL will continue to have an impact on practice, guided by the membership of stakeholders on our advisory committee and board. The involvement of these groups in DCAL facilitates close engagement with research users (from the worlds of policy and practice, third sector organisations, and deaf people themselves) before, during and after the research process.


Research activity codes: 7.1 INDIVIDUAL CARE NEEDS;2.3 PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS
Health categories: EAR;MENTAL HEALTH;NEUROLOGICAL