In this chapter we take the opportunity to reflect upon the findings presented in this book and try to draw some of the central themes together. We also review the relationship between the parent's and young person's perspective and examine some of the changes in parental perspective over time. We discuss the implications of the findings and look to the future for the deaf young people and their families.

In doing this, we cannot be comprehensive, but only selective. The implications are those we have chosen to draw from the research, and other people may see other issues as more significant. Yet others, from their reading of the same evidence, may draw different conclusions from those that we suggest.

THEMES AND ISSUES

Language and communication

A pervasive theme of this book has been language and communication. This has been expressed in a number of ways and at several levels. A basic issue has been the linguistic competence of the young people, regardless of the language they used. In some situations, the ability to access spoken language was also significant. Beyond this, the familiarity of the young people with conversations, reflecting on their own experience and describing their own point of view has been discussed. All these concerns have consequences for the young people and for family life.