Tehran University of Medical Sciences Auditory and Vestibular Research 2423-480X 0 0 2026 05 17 1518 1518 Azadeh Borna - Seyede Zohre Mousavi Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Farnoush Jarollahi Department of Audiology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran 2025 11 28 2026 05 17 Background and aims: Many parents rely on professionals for information to decide their children’s initial communication mode. Although sign language is accessible to all children who are deaf, spoken language remains inaccessible to many. Therefore, providing evidence-based professional counseling is crucial to guiding parents in leveraging this golden window for language acquisition. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of professionals regarding sign language. Method: This cross-sectional study involved 199 audiologists (49.2%) and speech-language pathologists (50.8%) who completed an online KAP questionnaire. The survey assessed three domains of sign language in Individuals who are deaf and hard-of-hearing . The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including multiple linear regression, to identify the factors influencing each domain. Results: There was a strong positive correlation between KAP (p<0.001). Misconceptions, such as the belief that “sign language hinders the speech learning ,” were common.   Speech-language pathologists demonstrated better performance in using sign language than audiologists (p<0.001), and younger practitioners exhibited higher levels of knowledge and practice, suggesting the impact of recent training. Conclusion: This study showed persistent professional beliefs that sign language may reduce children’s motivation to learn speech, overlooking the critical importance of language acquisition during sensitive developmental periods. Since the unbiased attitude of the professional community is influenced by knowledge, enhancing this knowledge base is expected to lead to more effective outcomes regarding the preservation of the golden window for language learning among deaf children. https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/view/1518 https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/download/1518/683