Although there is controversy about exactly when the window for language acquisition is open, most would agree that the ages of 3 to 7 are critical. There are many myths about how to communicate with deaf individuals. These myths apply especially to those deaf people for whom English may or may not be a usable language. One common misconception is that deaf people are very good at lipreading. This would be true for people who are oral deaf, in that their education has focused largely on speaking and comprehending spoken English.
Some deaf people appreciate total communication, in which both sign and speech are used.
In this case, the subject uses cues on the lips to help follow what is being signed. Another common misconception concerns written communication. To understand writing requires knowledge of English grammar and syntax. The average deaf individual reads English at a fourth-grade level. Psychiatrists should never assume that a written note will be understood by a deaf person unless that individual has demonstrated a facility with English.