06/11/2025 Marita Løkken (NTNU)

I have followed deaf women with their babies to routine postnatal consultations in health centres in Norway. All consultations were interpreted between NTS and Norwegian, and are videotaped. In addition, the material comprises interviews with the deaf women about the recent consultation. From this, I will give a summary of my three published articles. The first article focuses on the additional labour the deaf women experience when they are in touch with the health centre after birth. The second concentrates on the use of gaze in these consultations, and shows that the deaf women and the interpreters cooperate to get access to the interaction. The last article shows that deaf parents face a strong focus on the babies’ soundscape and ability to make sounds, while sign language is poorly supported.