My son is HOH with normal hearing to 1000 Hz and then moderate to severe/profound loss from 2000-4000 Hz. He is 5 years old and has always been very verbal. We found out about his hearing loss when he turned 3 (he had normal hearing at birth), and we put him in a total approach preschool class at a state-funded DHH school. He has flourished in this setting and absolutely loves school. His preferred mode of commuincation is speech and his articulation has cleared up a lot. Even though he never stops talking, he does know sign language very well. In fact, his teachers call him "the sign language detective." At his prompting, at home, we look up all types of words in our ASL dictionary, although he just doesn't use them while communicating. His teachers obviously sign with him all day long, and I sign with him at home, but we all have to actually ask him to sign something to us. He is a very happy and bright boy, and thinks his hearing aids are the coolest things in the world - he calls them his "super ears."
Due to funding issues, the school is no longer available. The only option left in our state is to "mainstream" him into a regular classroom without a signing interpreter and no specialized "deaf education" (Yes, we've been dealing with our EIP/IDEA - long story but the resources just aren't available). At this point, to get anything else, we will have to move out of state.
I wanted to put as much info about him as I could before asking this question: We have been approached by some family members for assistance in moving to a state where there is an excellent oral only school. While it is an incredible opportunity in some ways, and he doesn't rely on sign to communicate himself, I find it hard to believe access to sign language hasn't helped clear things up for him while learning. He is also an EXCELLENT lip reader, but I know how much it helps clear things up between us at home when I sign to him. With a kid that already is so verbal and although knows sign language, doesn't use it, would an oral only school be a good decision?
His teachers believe he would do well in either the oral only school out of state or being "mainstreamed" into the public school system where we live. Either way, he won't get signing in school up here unless something changes by next year with state funding. I would continue to expose him to sign outside of school because I really believe in it and want him to remain a part of the DHH community.
Any input would help. Thanks
Due to funding issues, the school is no longer available. The only option left in our state is to "mainstream" him into a regular classroom without a signing interpreter and no specialized "deaf education" (Yes, we've been dealing with our EIP/IDEA - long story but the resources just aren't available). At this point, to get anything else, we will have to move out of state.
I wanted to put as much info about him as I could before asking this question: We have been approached by some family members for assistance in moving to a state where there is an excellent oral only school. While it is an incredible opportunity in some ways, and he doesn't rely on sign to communicate himself, I find it hard to believe access to sign language hasn't helped clear things up for him while learning. He is also an EXCELLENT lip reader, but I know how much it helps clear things up between us at home when I sign to him. With a kid that already is so verbal and although knows sign language, doesn't use it, would an oral only school be a good decision?
His teachers believe he would do well in either the oral only school out of state or being "mainstreamed" into the public school system where we live. Either way, he won't get signing in school up here unless something changes by next year with state funding. I would continue to expose him to sign outside of school because I really believe in it and want him to remain a part of the DHH community.
Any input would help. Thanks