Presented is the third year interim report of a 4-year longitudinal study comparing effectiveness of seven preschool programs which serve approximately 69 deaf children. Schools are seen to emphasize either an oral-aural, Rochester (oral-aural plus fingerspelling), or total communication approach to language development. Reported are the following…

Describes deafness as a sociocultural phenomenon similar to ethnicity, and discusses cultural conflict between hearing educators and deaf parents in a school for deaf children. Reports that misunderstandings often arise because parents and hearing educators use linguistic symbols and terminology differently. (KH)

This survey of seven hearing families with deaf children examined parent understanding of Signed English and American Sign Language, reasons for choosing Signed English, experiences with professionals and with other deaf adults, challenges of developing fluency in Signed English, and parental evaluation of the results of their use of Signed…

Two versions of a criterion-referenced videodisc-based instrument, SHIPS (Self-Help InterPersonal Skills), have been developed for high school students with hearing impairments. Students can choose either American Sign Language or English-based sign versions of assessment items. Field testing found that use of SHIPS enhanced data validity and…

This article addresses training of hearing-impaired children who have received cochlear implants from a "hearing as a second language" point of view. It compares cochlear implants to hearing aids. A project involving 7 children, ages 5 to 12, is detailed, noting efforts to provide a rich auditory environment and encouraging both manual and oral…

The purpose of the study was to assess the relative effectiveness of print, sign, and pictures in the transfer of reading-related information to children who are deaf. By means of personal computers, deaf children were presented CD-ROM-generated stories in four different formats: print only, print plus pictures, print plus sign language, and print…

Learning activities are presented to promote awareness of hearing impairments and to help children understand and accept people with disabilities. Through games, stories, information, and personal dialogue, students learn about hearing loss and communication methods as well as the broader issue of differences and the experience of being disabled.…

This booklet presents basic issues and recommendations of a Nevada legislative task force on the establishment of courses in American Sign Language (ASL) for credit as a foreign language in the public schools and institutions of higher education. An introductory section, "American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Issues and Answers: A Basic…

This paper explores the link between sign language research and sociolinguistic theory. It demonstrates how sign language research benefits from a sociolinguistic approach and provides validation for sociolinguistic theory. Previous research on the sign language of the deaf is reviewed, and a distinction is made between "structure-oriented" and…

Seventy-two deaf Ss (10- to 19-years-old) were tested, employing the Test of Syntactic Ability (TSA), the language sub-tests of the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT), and analyses of written language samples, in a study of the influence of early language and communication environment on their later syntactic language ability. Ss were divided into…

Five conference reports on the physically handicapped consider architectural barrier, attitudes, the use of total communication methods, a new symbolic communication system, and long term care of cerebral palsied or multiply handicapped individuals, respectively. Reported is a survey of public and private buildings in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota…

The curriculum guide was developed to serve hearing impaired children at the Kendall Demonstration School elementary/middle school in Washington, D.C. An introductory section explains the philosophy/rationale of the language arts curriculum which emphasizes the development of spoken, signed, or written language. The next section offers suggestions…

One of three projects included examined the effects of combined speech and fingerspelling on the development of language and communication using a survey of over 200 subjects from six residential schools. The results showed that fingerspelling in combination with speech leads to improved achievement, shows no detrimental effects on the acquisition…

The author reviews studies and programs in consideration of problems and issues professionals face in the early education of aurally handicapped children. Language handicaps as an obstacle to development of the child's academic, intellectual, and social potential are examined; as is parental need for supportive guidance. Discussed are studies…

The study, based on L. Cronbach's Characteristics by Treatment Interaction model, investigated seven preschool programs for aurally handicapped children which variously employed the oral-aural method, the Rochester method, or the total communication method. Equipment, materials, grouping procedures, and activities were indicated for each program.…