02 October 2010

Children with Hearing and Speech Difficulties in their Education

Deaf children can be helped to communicate using lip reading techniques.When speaking to these children it is advisable to to make movements of lips very clear speaking slowly so that the children can learn to read what we are saying by reading our lips. We can communicate with effectively with these children by watching the movements of their lips. This method is very helpful to children who are completely deaf. They can use this to communicate with the public.
Deaf and dumb can be communicated using sign language .
The whole community must have the knowledge of signs so that they can communicate with these children. In most cases sign language is only known to the special institutions who rehabilitate and educate these children and is a major limiting factor in the community in general.
However the sign language can be used effectively when used together with other types of language ,for example speech ,body language ,lip reading etc. This helps children's clarification of points , used in isolation it may not be very helpful.
Deaf and dumb children should help to develop other skills through drawing,reading and writing. Long before introduced to formal Education. These skills are good to communicate with others .The entry to school should further expose children to all methods of acquiring language before they start the actual schooling in formal sense.
Because of problems in some of these children to use speech ,lip reading ,body language ,sign language ,drawing , writing and reading to communicate. They should be taught to use pictures to express themselves and understand what other people want to say to them.
There are some situations where the child is able to read but ,has difficulties in speaking . The child must be taught to point words instead of pictures. The teacher should show pleasure when the children do successfully what we want them to do.
The picture language can be used concurrently with other methods to enable children to develop an understanding and learn even more effectively. The method is not suitable to be used on its own,but it can only used when the learner shows a high degree of not being able to cope with work.
All these methods designed to help the deaf and dumb children to succeed ,teachers must prepare thoroughly for the learners. The teaching media must be appropriate thus pictures and drawings of animals ,cartoons ,picture -charts etc. All these must be clear enough to be comprehended by the child.
Moreover the child should regulary taken for medical examination because we can ascertain the degree of deafness. In the medical examinations the teacher can benefits for the tests of hearing.
If severe deafness is dictated parents are advise to refer their children to specialised institutions. The specialised schools like Emarald Hill for deaf in Harare can help these children in their Education. However there may be no special institutions in your area or country ,it is always advised to adopt methods as suggested above.
A child who is losing hearing can be assisted to get hearing aids. Hearing aids make sounds louder and enhance the child to hear environmental sounds.
The said child should always make use of aids to get maximum benefits. The child must be assisted in switching on or off the hearing aid and checking that the media is in good condition to benefit the learner.
In the ordinary classroom the deaf children must be given a seat in the front of the class so as to make vision not interferred with. This is due to the fact that the child rely heavily on sight in lip reading. Sitting in front is also important to see the teacher 's mouth clearly. Hence the teacher should talk normally and not to exaggerate mouth movements to avoid lip reading difficult. The child may get much help if the teacher speak slowly,maintain rhythm of natural speech and speaking more loudly.
Teachers must make awareness campaigns to the community at large to discover and help dumb and deaf children. This is fully going to help the community to help these children at an early age. Teachers also recommend the concerned parents to consult medical examiners to test the children if suspected of deafness or dumbness.
Another way they can help these children with hearing and speaking disabilities is establishing a special class in a normal school or more special schools like St Giles ,loreto schools in Harare Zimbabwe. It is also necessary to have more facilities to teach elementary lessons in carpentry,sewing ,weaving ,pottery ,gardening other other tasks useful in the community.This will fully engaged children in Education as life ,hands on approach ,use of techvoc to empower the learner for own future.

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