The Oral Approach

Teaching communication skills to learners who are

hearing impaired

What is it?

The Oral Communication approach teaches students who are hearing impaired to communicate through facial expressions, body language, residual hearing (if present), lip reading, and ideally, speech.

It is NOT a form of communication in which any form of signing, such as American Sign Language, or fingerspelling may be used.

It relies heavily on residual hearing and/or technology.

Total Communication

Oral Approach

Dates back to the time of Aristotle

History in America tied to “equal education for all”

Think Mary Wollstonecraft

NCLB, 2001

Higher educational success: literacy rates, vocabulary, opportunities

American Sign Language

Sign language was brought to America in 1817 by Gallaudet, and Clerc.

“Uses manual movements to represent concepts”

Rose to popularity during Civil Rights’ Movement

IDEA (dating back to 1975) and ADA, 1990

Identity in a community

There are environmental demands and learning modalities to consider.

Oralism leads to educational success.Individuals who are hearing impaired learn best from visual stimuli.

Better IEP’s by Barbara Bateman

Speech therapy

Technology (hearing aids, cochlear implants)

Special education teachers

Teachers who are hearing impaired

IDEA and ADA call for educational supplements and services.

How to decide which method to use?

Child’s learning style and abilities (Think John Locke’s tabula rasa)

Parent involvement

School resources available

Is English the family’s first language?

Either way, age 5 is key. Early intervention is necessary.

Have high expectations!

Teaching deaf students in the inclusive classroom

Sources Consulted1. http

://www.drury.edu/multinl/story.cfm?id=9901&nlid=166

2. http://www.personal.psu.edu/smf5000/education%20approaches.html

3. http://users.ccewb.net/lonerock/hearmemo/appdf.htm

4. http://saveourdeafschools.org/unlocking_the_curriculum.pdf