Abstract

A review follows on the theories put forward by various investigators aimed at explaining the reasons for the apparently impulsive behaviour of deaf children. Evidence will be shown indicating that the impulsiveness observed in deaf children is a secondary effect related to the loss of hearing, that is to say, a consequence of the relatively poor ability of the deaf child in communicating with his/her hearing parents. The conclusion will be reached that the acquisition of the ability to control impulsiveness is very often obtained through a language process and is, therefore, a process which may cause more difficulties in any child with poor ability to communicate or in children where the communicative environment is inadequate.