Either/or proposition for deaf children

[Miss-Delectable]

TheStar.com - comment - Either/or proposition for deaf children

Government initiatives, particularly infant hearing screening programs, have resulted in earlier diagnosis of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The subsequent use of cochlear implants at younger ages has resulted in more age-appropriate speech and oral language outcomes.

However, this does not change a deaf child into a hearing child. At night, when the cochlear implant is unplugged, the child hears nothing.

Unfortunately for deaf children, the issue of spoken language versus American Sign Language (ASL) is presented as an either/or proposition: if you choose a cochlear implant and oral communication, ASL is no longer offered as an option and parents are led to believe that if they use sign language with their child, the cochlear implant will be less than effective. However, there is nothing in research literature to suggest that a child cannot use both spoken language and ASL. With time set aside for each language to be learned individually rather than simultaneously, a deaf child can successfully acquire both languages.

With good spoken language skills, a deaf child can more easily access the hearing world and with ASL proficiency, the child can have a healthy deaf identity and access the rich culture associated with ASL.

Joanne DeLuzio, Vice-Chair, The Canadian Hearing Society Board of Directors, Toronto

 

[jillio]

TheStar.com - comment - Either/or proposition for deaf children

Government initiatives, particularly infant hearing screening programs, have resulted in earlier diagnosis of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The subsequent use of cochlear implants at younger ages has resulted in more age-appropriate speech and oral language outcomes.

However, this does not change a deaf child into a hearing child. At night, when the cochlear implant is unplugged, the child hears nothing.

Unfortunately for deaf children, the issue of spoken language versus American Sign Language (ASL) is presented as an either/or proposition: if you choose a cochlear implant and oral communication, ASL is no longer offered as an option and parents are led to believe that if they use sign language with their child, the cochlear implant will be less than effective. However, there is nothing in research literature to suggest that a child cannot use both spoken language and ASL. With time set aside for each language to be learned individually rather than simultaneously, a deaf child can successfully acquire both languages.

With good spoken language skills, a deaf child can more easily access the hearing world and with ASL proficiency, the child can have a healthy deaf identity and access the rich culture associated with ASL.

Joanne DeLuzio, Vice-Chair, The Canadian Hearing Society Board of Directors, Toronto

Hey shel.....we've been vindicated! Someone else who says the same things we have been saying, and has read the same research we have! Next time I am asked to prove the research exists, I'll refer them to this post.

 

[shel90]

It is nice to see that other people are able to keep an open mind and realize/understand the value of ASL in deaf/hoh children's lives.

Until people trust and believe in ASL, they still will push for oral-only approaches for deaf/hoh/CIers. I don't have faith in those people to keep an open mind about the quality of ASL. I am sorry I am being a pessimistic but people just continuously disregard facts or evidence of ASL not interfering with spoken language development, ASL leading to higher literacy skills, and ASL or deaf people having a positive impact on those children's lives.

Howver it is nice that others can see it and take it seriously.

 

[jillio]

It is nice to see that other people are able to keep an open mind and realize/understand the value of ASL in deaf/hoh children's lives.

Until people trust and believe in ASL, they still will push for oral-only approaches for deaf/hoh/CIers. I don't have faith in those people to keep an open mind about the quality of ASL. I am sorry I am being a pessimistic but people just continuously disregard facts or evidence of ASL not interfering with spoken language development, ASL leading to higher literacy skills, and ASL or deaf people having a positive impact on those children's lives.

Howver it is nice that others can see it and take it seriously.

Maybe if enough see it and take it seriously, things will eventually turn around again. There is such a resurgance of the strict oral philosophy right now that it really scares me for the kids. It looks like we are going to have to go full circle again, and disprove the oral philosophy with a whole new group of students...the CIers. But how many students are going to suffer before what has been shown in the past is shown in the future as well?