Do Deaf and Hearing Kids Learn the Same Way?
Thursday December 14, 2006
That is the question that the new Center for Education Research Partnerships is looking for answers for. Are deaf kids just hearing kids trapped in deaf bodies? The answer, hopefully available in a few years, should be intriguing.
Comments
Well, there are researches already showing that deaf kids who grow up in a family where they have total communication access (usually a deaf child in a deaf family but it can happen in hearing family especially if parents can sign) has same language development in ASL corresponding to normal English language development you would see in a hearing child. I can cite articles later if you want.
OTOH, there are studies showing that among deaf persons’ brains, the gap between left and right hemispheres are narrower than those in hearing people and when you use ASL, there are language brain activities in both hemispheres as opposite to just one hemisphere (can’t recall which) you see in a hearing person.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing children are capable of achieving everything that hearing children can. In fact, when allowed and guided towards acquiring two full and rich languages (American Sign Language and English), their achievement levels skyrocket. They are not ‘hearing children trapped in Deaf bodies” - they are whole children in their own right who should, and do, learn of their rich cultural and linguistic history AND who can acquire the language and skills to be competative and contibuting in a hearing society. For those for whom it is appropriate and possible, speaking and listening is one of the ways to access langauge. But when the hearing aids or cochlear implant come off, they are, and will be, Deaf. Do not deny who they are - celebrate it, and help the world be more accessible for them. That is how success will be guaranteed.
Unfortunately, the definition of Total Communication (TC) has been manipulated far from its original intent. In its beginning, it meant that any and all means should be considered for a child, based upon how that child learns. Total Communication never meant ’simultaneous communication”, signing and speaking at the same time, though that method is not synonomous with TC. Many years, many statistics and much research has been done and published since those days. Methods of the past were NOT successful. If they were, why have Deaf children’s achievement levels been notoriously behind their hearing peers? Instead of pointing the finger at the child, we need to look at how we have taught them. If signing English, or SimCom is viable, why haven’t students in those settings succeeded beyond those miserable statistics?
One more point - if signing to hearing babies has become popular and seen as a boost to expressive language development, why is that not acceptable for Deaf and Hard of Hearing babies and children?
Part of the problem related to the education of deaf children is UNequal access to information in the classroom. We have Deaf Education teachers that do not sign well and/or interpreters with inadequate skills.
Gaps in education and learning are beginning early in the K-12 years. We want to blame it all on the lack of language before the child starts school, and this does create a BIG deficit; but what do we do when the child starts school? We expect the child to learn language and curriculum at the same time! When will we set-up “sign language” classes for deaf students to learn language?
Why do many K-12 teachers (mainstream classroom and deaf ed. classroom) accept lower performance standards for deaf children? When a deaf child says, “that’s to hard for me because I am deaf” and the teacher says “ok”, the teacher is allowing the student to dictate the requirements for their own education. This needs to stop. I agree with shorter assignments, but not elimination of work or assignments because the student complains.
Reading and grammer (written English)are not a priority. We blow it off by accepting the “fact” that deaf people read and write at a “third to fifth grade level” beause of the difference in their language. Deaf people will always live in a hearing world. I know that ASL is not English, but the fact is, deaf children need to learn English in order to be successful in college and the work environment.
There is more I could say on this subject, but I will stop for now. I feel we do a real disservice to our deaf children in relation to education and changes need to be made.
I am learning sign language to be able to communicate with a couple deaf relatives and their associates. I have thought that I need more understanding of what might be missing in hearing persons’ understanding of how deaf people need to be communicated with. If there are sites where this discussion is continued, please advise.
I am 73 After a lifetime of being serious HOH I can relate to many of the comments. I was one of those kids that was just pushed along however I learned to read at a very early age. I read everything I could get my hands on. When I was in my sophamore year I was kicked out of a private academy with no money, no support of any kind. NO home to go to. No job and could not use a telephone. Two people stepped up and helped me. One got me a job. An old lady gave me a room to live in. I was 17. That was the end of my formal education. Several years later I took the GED and passed with one of the highest scores they had ever seen. They thought I cheated!
But the truth is that in spite of a lousy education I proved that I was not deaf and dumb. I just could not hear well and I was not dumb and both my parents and the educational system of that time totally failed! But I went on and did things most people would not believe. Thanks to determination and hard work I have survived.
So my conclusion is this. Don’t look for hearing people to understand or care. In fact I believe that if you want something bad enough, fight for it. But definately do not expect hearing people to care. The fact is unless there is money to be made out of something, hearing people are just not going to get involved. And do not look for a fair treatment from hearing aid systems companies to give you a break. They are in it for the money.
So parents, you want your Deaf or HOH child to be succesful, it is up to you. Fight for your child and what they need. The first things to do is teach your child to read and then make sure they have interesting books to read. My education and memories are mostly visual. My entire life is made up of visual. Reading is a visual learing process and in my case, it was my window on the world around me. Make sure your child has a visual opportunity. Get them the best you can. My parents and teachers failed mierably but I still made it in spite of them. And love that child! They are going to need it!
Hi Narm,
That is great that you are such a motivated HOH person! I wish all deaf and HOH children, their parents, families and educators had the same motivation. You are right, reading IS the key to open up a world of opportunity. I wish deaf kids could be motivated to have the same interest in reading as you do…you are a GREAT role model. Thanks for your input.