SLPNarrative ReviewJournal of deaf studies and deaf education2026

Avoiding unintended consequences: science of reading policies may harm deaf children.

Tory Sampson, Amelia Becker, Erin E Campbell, Jennie Pyers, Wyatte C Hall, Zed Sevcikova Sehyr, Todd Czubek, Kristin DiPerri, Jon Henner, Karen Emmorey, Jennifer Petrich, Christina L Dobbs, Amy Lieberman, Marie Coppola, Clifton Langdon, Elana Pontecorvo, Paris Gappmayr, Anna Lim, Michael Higgins, Donna Jo Napoli, Nathan E Harrison, Rachel Benedict, Leala Holcomb, Franklin Jones Jr Ma, Andrew Bottoms, Emily Glenn-Smith Ma, Diane M Clark, Rachael Gabriel, Laura Jiménez PhD, Natalie Delgado, Naomi Caselli

PMID 41712465

WHAT IT FOUND

No new study data are reported.

The paper reviews prior evidence and warns that one-size-fits-all phonics policies can harm deaf children.

What this paper is

This is a narrative review and policy argument about reading instruction for deaf children. It summarizes published studies and argues that phonics-focused mandates can cause harm, but it reports no new methods, participants, or outcomes, so there is no finding here to change practice on.

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