The significance of hearing often goes under appreciated until it is no longer available, and for students who have lived their entire life with a hearing loss, education can be challenging.
History
The history of deaf education started in the early 1800’s when an oral school in Virginia was established by William Bolling and John Braidwood. Similar schools emerged across the country, including a school founded by Alexander Graham Bell who adamantly believed that deaf individuals could and should be taught to speak. His views expressed resistance against sign language and encouraged oral education for all students. The passage of the Education of All Handicapped Children Act in 1975 gave equal rights to public education to all …show more content…
Now that we’ve discovered some of the differences in how deaf and hard-of-hearing students learn, we want to know how to turn that knowledge into more effective teaching strategies. We’re in a position to educate parents and mainstream teachers about how these kids are different. Using the memory example, given their difficulties of retaining sequences, if you arrange material visually and spatially, deaf kids would do better.”
Teaching Techniques for Students with Hearing Loss
The lack or loss of hearing can affect a person's learning progress. Many theories have come up on which approach is more effective. Experts agreed that depending on the capabilities, personality, and needs of the individual every approach would be different. There are three main teaching techniques and they are Bilingual-Bicultural, Auditory-Oral, or Total communication. Bilingual-Bicultural is when American Sign Language is the only method used in the classroom, while proper English is exposed on printed papers. Auditory-Oral, this teaching approach does not use sign language, but instead teaches the English Language through residual hearing and speech. Total Communication combines auditory and visual communication for instruction. A combination of sign systems can be used, including American Sign Language, signed English, speech and sign language used simultaneously, …show more content…
The environment and basic methods selected for students with a hearing loss should be chosen based on the student’s personality and individual needs, but each factor should incorporate the student’s capabilities to reach the highest level of success.
Modern Techniques for Students with a Hearing Loss
Proper Classroom considerations for when students with hearing loss require a modified classroom, which should incorporate well-designed acoustics for maximum sound, little distractive noise, and proper lighting for visuals. Each student should have a clear view of all visuals as well as the instructor.
Use of an Interpreter because any classrooms with deaf students who sign incorporate an interpreter for easier translation of material. Deaf students, who have grown up with sign language, should have sign language included in their daily educational life making learning easier that