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what about the real impact on social learning, the alienation? (deaf kids experience it alot on a daily basis but because the environment, (family, teachers, even some 'kind' classmates all contribute to deny the existence of the alienation.
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YES indeedy!
.........For me my mainstream issues were NOT due to language delays. Matter of fact, Ive always tested very high for language, even for a hearing person.
That said, I always had HUGE issues with social problems and alienation. I remmy when I was in elementary I thought I was the only kid in the entire world who wore hearing aids. I never quite felt like I fit in. And, orgs like AG Bad do not understand how much that can effect a kid's self esteem. I mean god.........even today I still have to deal with the prejudice of people who think I'm MR or "homeless person weird" b/c of my voice. Oral skills and mainstreaming are a good tool, but they shouldn't be the only option in the back. Just b/c some kids have thrived orally (both academicly and socially) in the mainstream it doesn't mean that ALL dhh kids will be able to do well.