Can the Vineland be used with a hearing impaired child? Can signs be substituted for speech?
The Vineland definitely can be used with a hearing impaired child. In fact, hearing impaired children ages 6-0 to 12-11 were one of seven groups for which supplementary norms were established during the Vineland standardization. Both signs and speech count as expressive language; therefore, signs can be substituted for speech. However, a word or sign can be counted only once. For example, if an individual signs “drink,” “more,” and “toilet,” and also says the word drink, that counts as 3, not 4 words. If an individual has a spoken vocabulary of 20 words and signs 80 words that he or she does not speak, then he or she has a vocabulary of 100 words. In addition to counting signs for speech, modifications can be made for other items. For example, a textphone, because it is used in the same way as a telephone-that is, as a telecommunications device-can serve as a substitute in the telephone items. Some items, however, cannot and should not be modified. For example, a child with a hearing i
