Adam Stone|Geo Kartheiser|Peter C. Hauser|Laura?Ann Petitto|Thomas E. Allen
Fingerspelling as a Novel Gateway into Reading Fluency in Deaf Bilinguals
Gallaudet University|Gallaudet University|Rochester Institute of Technology|Gallaudet University|Gallaudet University|Gallaudet University
studies shown american sign language asl fluency positive impact deaf individuals english reading cognitive crosslinguistic mechanisms permitting mapping visualmanual language onto soundbased language yet elucidated fingerspelling represents english orthography 26 distinct hand configurations integral part asl suggested provide deaf bilinguals important crosslinguistic links sign language orthography using hierarchical multiple regression analysis study examined relationship age asl exposure asl fluency fingerspelling skill reading fluency deaf collegeage bilinguals controlling asl fluency fingerspelling skill significantly predicted reading fluency revealing firsttime fingerspelling beyond asl skills contributes reading fluency deaf bilinguals suggest fingerspellingin visualmanual modalityand readingin visualorthographic modalityare mutually facilitating share common underlying cognitive capacities word decoding accuracy automaticity word recognition findings provide support hypothesis development english reading proficiency may facilitated strengthening relationship among fingerspelling sign language orthographic decoding en route reading mastery may also reveal optimal approaches reading instruction deaf hard hearing children