Wirelessly posted
from what i understand, the issue is trying to read and write a language that you do not know. ASL using children do not know English, so they have to learn an entirely new and different language to read and write. Literacy is linked to the ability to use (and know) english for face to face communication. Without that reading and writing are hugely difficult and that is why the "4th grade" barrier remains.
Not according to what I have seen in the studies so far. Apparently, the advantage the young CI users have over deaf children is negligible. Teaching English with ASL seems to make the best sense. That is what I have gathered so far and I am still reading.