This book highlights the wide impact of deafness on many aspects of communication for deaf children and young people and those around them. It explores input, semantics, grammar and speech and how you as a practitioner can apply this knowledge in different contexts including for early years support. Each chapter considers the impact of deafness on key communication components and provides you with opportunities to reflect on and extend knowledge and practice in each area. A range of strategies and activities are presented that can enhance the support offered. Key features include: A framework to guide you to use your knowledge and the available resources to maximum effect with deaf children and young people Clear explanations throughout built on wide research evidence to enable you to employ effective approaches that will make a difference A set of adaptable checklists to provide efficient assessment to help planning A focus on supporting communicative independence in collaboration with each deaf child and young person Written in an accessible, engaging format, this book equips practitioners with a range of tools to support the development of communicative independence and includes reflective questions to consolidate knowledge. It is a must-read for any practitioner working with deaf children and young people and their families.