I have SO many questions...

Ok first of all I am new to the deaf culture- in that my son is the one who is HOH/Deaf and not myself- so these are things I have never had to think about and I'm not trying to be condecending or anything-- PLEASE understand that when you read this-- these are things that as a mom I'm questioning... so I can understand and better help my son...

Ok I hope I put this in a way that doesn't upset anyone...

How do you teach a deaf child to read?? I know how difficult it is for my 22 y/o brother who has a processing disorder and a Very MILD a hearing loss, I can't imagine how much more difficult it is for a deaf child to learn... since reading is about sounds and putting those sounds together-- if a child has never heard those sounds... how do you do it?? Memorization?? Visual cues?

My son is not even a year old yet but I am having starting to look into things for his future, schools, teaching methods, etc... and this just struck me-- since language is so much sound and not a visual thing how will he learn to read?? Math-- you can use visual tactile aids, etc...

Again Please please know I'm just a mom who's starting to think about her son's future- and wants honest open answers... I'm not looking to upset or hurt anyone's feelings... I'm just quite honestly IGNORANT about this!!

THANK YOU THANK YOU for any answers or light anyone can shed on this for me!

Sigh.. you came at a bad timing. The person who knows a lot about this is banned for a month. Hopefully someone else can answer you.

I'll try my best to answer based on the random info I got from this forum and articles I've read. Words usually are memorized cognitively by both deaf and hearing. When you read, you basically look at the word as a whole. There are some books that associate words with signs, but you should be able to teach him to read with pictures associated. I am not sure how your son communicates right now (talking, sign?).

Obviously, the best information you can get is with a deaf education teacher who would have experience on teaching little deaf kids to read.

It is nice to know who care...

I want input, may throw words a advise and you decide...

Most important is listen what child is upset from school due peer pressure from teacher or whatever reason. For example; not understand why he get trouble for what... that something to pay attention.

About Reading...

I encourage you to start sign as you should sign correct... if he not sign right, don't pressure.. it part of process learning until correct sign. Also give basic book with lot visual without word for start. For example point monkey and sign monkey and point at one a time. My advise about those story ensure you will tell story word to word. If you want him to learn speak, if not speak clear and it can be worthless. Due, I have see parents force kid to learn and do speak which I heard sound not clear. I do not like to see hearing behind their back and mock due speech incorrect.

Again, ALWAYS! ALWAYS check on child to write sentence like... "write a letter to your grandma what you want for birthday." Always check on sentence if the sentence alert or not clear. Due the teacher doesn't always tell you some teacher who passive to teach and ensure deaf student get proper educate and they do tell you. When my parent discover that I don't write very well or not reading. I start able read when I was 14 years old.

My weak area is past and present...

Also, word some advise to give your child to read novel book not regular book due not right sentence in some author wrote the book. I don't see nothing wrong but novel is better maybe one time a year unless he is interesting read book.

I can understand you concerned about child future because you should! Also word of advise about scholarship include that part of his future too.

Keep that mind, we have better technology such as videophone, you can look Sorenson VRS® or Viable.net Homepage and so on. So it can use for child benefit in right age or when he start make friend with hearing people that will start key input communicate...

Remember... do your best and let child know that you are doing your best. Let child know if he need anything and let you know.

Good luck

Unfortunately I can't help you with your questions (I'm a hearie and don't know anybody that is deaf / hoh...)

The only advise I could give you is that your child is going to give you the signs whether he wants to learn to read, how he progresses, etc. Deaf education teacher is in my POV very imporant (as I could read here through the board already).

Not sure if BraydensMom or Chris' Mom will be able to help you? :shrug: I am not sure...

I simply wanted to point out that it is wonderful to see mothers (parents!) already trying to get information way ahead of time!

That's all I wanted to say... Oh... and I'm sure a couple more people will drop in a line or two for further advise

Jamie

since reading is about sounds and putting those sounds together-- if a child has never heard those sounds... how do you do it?? Memorization?? Visual cues?

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Reading is not about sounds and putting sounds together. Reading is deciphering symbols.

Letters and words are patterns of symbols and you decipher them just as you do signs.

Notice, please I and many other deaf people are here reading your posts and writing back to you.

Therefore we did learn to read and write and sound had not much to do with it.

Bottesini said:

Reading is not about sounds and putting sounds together. Reading is deciphering symbols.

Letters and words are patterns of symbols and you decipher them just as you do signs.

Notice, please I and many other deaf people are here reading your posts and writing back to you.

Therefore we did learn to read and write and sound had not much to do with it.

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I guess I learned by phonics... so that's what I am used to using to teach to read... and that's what I think of, ya know?? sounding out the letters to make the words... that's what had me so confused... I was thinking about it the other night~ and thought- "how will adam sound the words out if he doesn't know what the sounds are..."

I see it the same way... We are hearing and it depends on how we were taught to read! At least that's what I think... For me when I read a word, there is a sound behind it...

Deaf / hoh children have to be taught different, just like blind people need to learn that whatever they are touching, there is a word to it (HA maybe you can help me here if you are reading this?).

I know that Jonas (my eldest nephew - hearie) has troubles reading out loud, but when he is asked to read a text to himself and later explain what he read, then he can tell you about what he read. Reading out loud, he's slooooow and has noooo clue what he is reading... it's weird.... I have never seen this on a child. My friend (the mother) is also confused about that. Maybe it sort of the same :shrug: but she has appointment with a therapist about that matter... See how that goes!

Jamie

JamieLynn said:

I see it the same way... We are hearing and it depends on how we were taught to read! At least that's what I think... For me when I read a word, there is a sound behind it...

Deaf / hoh children have to be taught different, just like blind people need to learn that whatever they are touching, there is a word to it (HA maybe you can help me here if you are reading this?).

I know that Jonas (my eldest nephew - hearie) has troubles reading out loud, but when he is asked to read a text to himself and later explain what he read, then he can tell you about what he read. Reading out loud, he's slooooow and has noooo clue what he is reading... it's weird.... I have never seen this on a child. My friend (the mother) is also confused about that. Maybe it sort of the same :shrug: but she has appointment with a therapist about that matter... See how that goes!

Jamie

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Jamie,

my brother is that way!! He has Central Auditory Processing Disorder-- so his brain doesn't process things the same... he also has a hard time reading from books- but on a computer screen he can read~~ I used to help him write his papers b/c he can't spell well at all b/c he can't process the indivdual sounds... he's struggled for years.. he was 14 before we figured out the problem... he's 22 now and still struggles-- although he is EXTREMELY intelligent and can fix any pc problem-- and taught me Probability and Stats in my college classes when he was only 16!!

I guess I see how it's different and difficult for him~ not 'hearing' things the way we do-- that it makes me wonder how Adam will do it...

We are probably OT here, regarding your thread question but I just wanted to add one more thing. Jonas is going to be eight years old in May, 2nd grade and still learning words... He has no speech problem at all too. Reading on his own and out loud just isn't the same. I might check out the Central Auditory Processing Disorder on the web out of pure interest, just in case...

Thanks for your little input! It's great to see you investing so much time in both your son (that you decided to adopt nonetheless!) and your brother!

<hug> Jamie

I am a certified deaf education teacher and I am deaf myself. I will get back to your questions later because I had a busy day at work and I am too tired to think. Glad u are asking these questions now. Wish more parents were like u.

I'm hoh, and basicly taught myself to read ONE YEAR after I got my hearing aids. . Sounds are a part of reading, but not the whole thing. It's more about decoding syntax and grammar.

Chair

I differ. No sound involved. The letters are a symbol that equals the picture.

Bottesini said:

Chair

I differ. No sound involved. The letters are a symbol that equals the picture.

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Deaf people learn by sight. Just like Blind people learn by touch, On written languages.

Babyblue said:

Deaf people learn by sight. Just like Blind people learn by touch, On written languages.

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Yes maam. I was furiously arguing with DeafDyke, while practicing my polite social skills.

I said it before and I don't know why she said that.

Bottesini said:

Yes maam. I was furiously arguing with DeafDyke, while practicing my polite social skills.

I said it before and I don't know why she said that.

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OH really!?

Man oh man! I missed that one.

That is one of the first things they teach us...as "Pre School Teachers". The basic knowledge of teaching.

ALL KIDS learn by Sight, Hearing, or Touch at first. That is why sensory play is so important. Then learn by memory.
Whatever sense becomes the dominate one, is the sense that will follow the memory. That being, is how they will learn. Regardless....

I am sure other teachers on this board can concur with that.

Bottesini said:

Chair

I differ. No sound involved. The letters are a symbol that equals the picture.

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That is the look-see or look-say whole language method of reading, which depends on memorizing words. It doesn't use phonics for sounding out words.

Bottesini said:

Yes maam. I was furiously arguing with DeafDyke, while practicing my polite social skills.

I said it before and I don't know why she said that.

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The controversy of "whole language" or "look-see" reading method vs. "phonics" reading method has been around for many years; it's not just you and Deafdyke.

Whole Language vs. Phonics Reading Instruction

Teach a Child to Read - Phonics vs Whole Language

Look-see, look-say, whole language reading method vs. phonics; OBE, behavioral psychology, lack of academics, and ultimate failure; John Dewey.

SuperKids Software Review - Phonics vs. Whole Language: Which is Better?

Reading Wars: Phonics vs. Whole Language

http://www.accelerated-achievement.com/realphonics.htm

Reba said:

That is the look-see or look-say whole language method of reading, which depends on memorizing words. It doesn't use phonics for sounding out words.

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Yes and it is how I read, and you have to admit I am obviously good at it. So it works!

I don't really have any more to say but notice Shel90 here so bumping this up in hopes she will explain to the OP you don't need sound to read.

Nope, u dont need sound to read..if that was the case, then we wouldnt have hearing people who are illiterate. Reading is a complex process and involves different strategies to use. My concern for your child is ensuring that he is establishing a strong first language so he can be ready to read by the time he is 5 years old and ASL is the only language fully accessible to deaf/hoh children. I would also encourage incorporating some spoken English to see if he does understand some of it but not as the only source of language for his language development.

Then, once he has established a strong language foundation base which is usually by the age of 3 and half to 4, you can start fingerspelling and pointing the alphabet so he can make the connection between the signs and the letters, then once he has established that, then start the sandwich method which is fingerspelling the words, signing the words, showing the word in printed form, and then back to fingerspelling the words. That helps with developing his English vocabulary.

Then, start h reading books that have simple and repeative sentences to him and important, show him the words and the fingerspelled words constantly.

All of that is strongly empasized for deaf children in their pre-school and kindergarten ages. That way they will be ready to do some reading and writing by the time they enter first grade.


Unfortunately, in my experience, we get the children from the public schools especially oral programs who werent able to establish a strong first language due to spoken English not being fully accessible to them and end up with no language when entering shool impeding their ability to develop literacy skills. That's why I strongly believe in the BiBi approach.