Developing Oral Communication in Students With Hearing Impairments

Whose Responsibility?

In the past 20 years, there have been significant changes in educational services for students with hearing impairments in the public schools. These changes include the enactment of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, the provision of related services by speech-language pathologists and the transition from primarily oral instructional philosophies and practices to those of total communication. Policies and procedures for delivering instruction in oral communication to students with hearing impairments have accompanied these changes. This article presents the results of a survey completed by speech-language pathologists and teachers of hearing-impaired students to identify parameters of instruction for developing oral communication in hearing impaired students. Specifically examined were aspects of professional preparation, roles, and responsibilities of speech-language pathologists and teachers, and parameters of direct instruction. Based on the findings of this survey and knowledge regarding how students learn oral communication, recommendations for the implementation of collaboration and consultation models by speech-language pathologists, teachers, and audiologists are proposed.

KEY WORDS: hearing impairment, deafness, communication, speech, service delivery

Submitted on June 22, 1990
Accepted on October 29, 1990

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