The relationship between phonological awareness and reading development of D/HH children was discovered in the early 1970s (Nielsen & Stahlman, 2002). Research found that D/HH children who read better often have phonological awareness skills. Moreover, some research asserts that D/HH students will not be able to read if they do not have phonological awareness (Nielsen & Stahlman, 2003). Some studies explicitly indicate that the D/HH students' low reading achievements refer to the lack of phonological awareness skills. Adams, as reported by Nielsen and Stahlman (2002), emphasize in his book Beginning to read: Thinking and learning about print, that phonological awareness is necessary for deaf children to understand words and text that they read. In addition, Paul (1998) points out the importance of the use of phonological awareness in short term memory to develop the comprehension skills of D/HH children. Furthermore, many studies assert that phonological awareness plays a significant role in developing the abilities of D/HH children to unlock unknown words. Narr (2006), indicates that phonological awareness, in specific phonemic skills, assist D/HH children to improve their skills and abilities of sound identification, sound blending, and sound manipulation. Deaf and hard of hearing children who lack phonological awareness struggle reading because reading requires children to be able to map sound to the letters that they read (Nielsen and Stahlman, 2002). Even though some deaf children can use their visual memory of words to read, they still need to improve their phonological awareness to develop their reading proficiency (Miller and Clark, 2011). In general, phonological awareness skills are important, but it cannot... ... middle of paper ... ...m Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Paul, P. & Whitelaw, G. (2011). Hearing and deafness: An introduction for health and educational professionals. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning. Paul, P., & Jackson, D. (1993) Toward a psychology of deafness: Theoretical and empirical perspectives. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Snow, C., Burns, N., & Grilfin, P. (1998). Preventing reading difficulties in young children. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Zapien, C.(1998). Options in deaf education –history, methodologies, and strategies for surviving the system. Retrieved Jun 28, 2011, from http://www.listen up.org/edu/options1.htm. Woolsey, M. Satterfield, S & Roberson, L (2006). Visual Phonic: An English Code Buster?. Journal of American Annals of The Deaf. Volume 151, No. 4, 2006
Spradley, T. S., & Spradley, J. P. (1978). Deaf Like Me. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University.
9) Beginning Reading And Phonological Awareness For Students With Learning Disabilities by Michael M. Behrmann , on the Kid Source web site
The “deaf and dumb” stigma as well as the delayed language and cognitive development of some Deaf children concerns this topic. “Ninety percent of deaf children have hearing parents, and usually there’s a significant communication gap” (Drolsbaugh 48). Therefore, it is not that being born deaf or hard of hearing that makes children unintelligent. It is the lack of access to language in the critical early years, as hearing parents often do not know sign language, that causes later issues in education. This can be seen from the fact that the brain’s plasticity, or its ability to acquire new information and establish neural pathways, is the greatest at birth and wanes throughout development. Therefore, if a child does not have sufficient access to language before five, significant language, and thus cognitive impairment, can result (100). Additionally, children learn about the world around them and develop critical thinking skills through asking questions. However, hearing parents often “wave off” such questions as unimportant due to difficulty explaining them (48). Therefore, early exposure to an accessible language such as ASL is crucial in developing language and cognitive abilities. When hearing families are fully aware and understanding of this, it can greatly facilitate improvements in education for Deaf
Tanner, D.C. (2003). Chapter 6: Hearing Loss and Deafness. In Exploring communication disorders: A 21st century introduction through literature and media (2nd ed., p. 189). Boston, Massachusetts: Allyn and Bacon.
Though some of the hearing community might take on an unknowingly negative approach on deafness due to a lack of knowledge, for those in the deaf community, their hearing loss is not a burden or a disability, but instead an important component of their identity and culture (Sanger-Katz). Many see being deaf as a positive attribute (Sanger-Katz). The motto belonging to the deaf community is “the deaf can do anything but hear” (“Deaf, not I...
What I found most interesting about Jarashow’s presentation were the two opposing views: Deaf culture versus medical professionals. Within the Deaf culture, they want to preserve their language and identity. The Deaf community wants to flourish and grow and do not view being deaf as a disability or being wrong. Jarashow stated that the medical field labels Deaf people as having a handicap or being disabled because they cannot hear. Those who are Deaf feel as though medical professionals are trying to eliminate them and relate it to eugenics. It is perceived that those in that field are trying to fix those who are Deaf and eliminate them by making them conform to a hearing world. Those within the Deaf community seem to be unhappy with devices such
Mark Drolsbaugh, the author of Deaf Again, was born to deaf parents at a time when the deaf population didn’t have and weren’t given the same availability to communication assistance as they have today. He was born hearing and seemed to have perfect hearing up until the first grade when he started having trouble understanding what was being said but was too young to understand what was happening. (Drolsbaugh 8).
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (November 2002). Retrieved October 17, 2004, from http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/coch.asp
"Values and Norms of the Deaf Community." College of the Canyons. College of the Canyons, n.d. Web. 30 Nov 2013.
Lou, Mimi WheiPing. Language Learning and Deafness: The history of language use in the education of the Deaf in the United States. Ed. Michael Strong. Cambridge: Cambridge Universtiy Press, 1988. 77-96. Print.
Phonological awareness (PA) involves a broad range of skills; This includes being able to identify and manipulate units of language, breaking (separating) words down into syllables and phonemes and being aware of rhymes and onset and rime units. An individual with knowledge of the phonological structure of words is considered phonologically aware. A relationship has been formed between Phonological awareness and literacy which has subsequently resulted in Phonological awareness tasks and interventions.This relationship in particular is seen to develop during early childhood and onwards (Lundberg, Olofsson & Wall 1980). The link between PA and reading is seen to be stronger during these years also (Engen & Holen 2002). As a result Phonological awareness assessments are currently viewed as both a weighted and trusted predictor of a child's reading and spelling and ability.
As previously mentioned, I would like to learn more about the benefits of daily reading, conduction aphasia, phonological awareness, and visual information. Simultaneously, I would like to research other kinds of repeated learning activities, besides Reading Theater, that could help a student develop automaticity. Additionally, I would like to learn more about neuroplasticity. This topic captured my attention because I had no idea that the brain had the ability to physically change. Towards the middle of the article, Frey and Fisher focus on the importance of providing quality read instruction to children with several disabilities. Therefore, I would like to learn more about what kind of instruction should be given and how to maximize learning opportunities for children with
The search for the most effective way to educate deaf students has long been filled with controversy, due to strong advocacy for conflicting approaches. The bilingual model of deaf education has been in place in many schools for the deaf for the past 20 years (Drasgow, 1998), and while many advocates of a strictly oral approach to deaf education discount its success, it is still a viable and appropriate option for deaf students with severe to profound hearing loss. In this paper I will describe historical perspectives around deaf education and discuss hearing loss and language acquisition for deaf children. I will provide justification for the continued use of the bilingual model against arguments in favour of a strictly oral approach. In addition, l will address challenges inherent to the bilingual model and conclude with suggested changes that may benefit deaf students’ language learning and literacy outcomes.
Itano, C. Y. (1997). The challenge of assessing language in children with hearing loss. Language, Speech & Hearing Services in Schools, 28(4), 362. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/232585838?accountid=14800
Parents of deaf child constantly make decisions and paths for the child and hope for the best. The first decision that my parents made when they discovered that I’m deaf are “old-school” hearing aids and weekly intense speech therapy. At first, I hated both of i...