Riflessioni sulla relazione tra competenze pragmatiche e sviluppo linguistico nelle persone con deficit uditivi

It is useful to imagine the communicative act as a dance that requires two fundamental steps: mutual attention and constant modulation on the steps to be taken. Within this scenario, therapists and those who deal, for whatever reason, with the management of the person with hearing impairments cannot choose to remain among the spectators but must (necessarily) move on the rhythm of the notes of this unique music. Possible delays in pragmatic skills and social communication skills, which are almost always present among deaf people, can lead to reduced exposure to language environments, adversely affecting their ability to communicate with others, leading to some inevitable effects on a wide range of abilities. In the light of the scientific evidence currently available in the literature, it could be useful for individuals with deafness to benefit from rehabilitative support suitable for the development of their pragmatic and social communication skills. The aim of this essay is therefore to provide a general perspective on pragmatic linguistic competence and its effects on general language skills. The results obtained show that, although some aspects may vary depending on the different populations, the difficulties that are encountered by individuals with an auditory deficit are, overall, the same. All these observations inevitably lead to a reflection on the current strategies used for managing the communicative accessibility of deaf people and force us to ask ourselves about the real clinical and social-communicative needs of people with auditory sensory impairment.