The above discussion was designed to provide background for the rational behind the selection of three crucial dependent variables examined in the research to be reported here: (a) the intellectual or academic functioning, (b) the social functioning, and (c) the communicative functioning of the deaf child. The major independent variable was defined as the parents’ hearing status because this factor was believed to affect (a) the socialization climate and (b) the existence of a system of early family communication. Four studies have been reported, which have direct bearing on the present research. These are summarized briefly later.