Language Deprivation and Deaf Mental Health explores the impact of the language deprivation that some deaf individuals experience by not being provided fully accessible language exposure during childhood. Leading experts in Deaf mental health care discuss the implications of language deprivation for a person's development, communication, cognitive abilities, behavior, and mental health. Beginning with a groundbreaking discussion of language deprivation syndrome, the chapters address the challenges of psychotherapy, interpreting, communication and forensic assessment, language and communication development with language-deprived persons, as well as whether cochlear implantation means deaf children should not receive rich sign language exposure. The book concludes with a discussion of the most effective advocacy strategies to prevent language deprivation. These issues, which draw on both cultural and disability perspectives, are central to the emerging clinical specialty of Deaf mental health.　

Neil S. Glickman, PhD, is a former unit director and psychologist with the Deaf Unit at Westborough State Hospital and a former psychologist with Advocates Deaf Services in Framingham, Massachusetts. He is currently on the faculty of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and has a private psychotherapy practice. He teaches and consults about Deaf mental health and applications of cognitive behavioral therapy for persons with language and learning challenges.

Wyatte C. Hall, PhD, is an alumnus of the Rochester Institute of Technology and Gallaudet University. After completing a clinical fellowship at University of Massachusetts Medical School, he became a postdoctoral fellow in the University of Rochester Medical Center. His postdoctoral and future faculty-level research focuses on deaf population disparities and the relationship between childhood language experiences and lifelong health outcomes in particular.