The Effects Of Deafness On Deaf Children - 1669 Words

Deafness has been viewed as a negative label regarding someone with a hearing loss. The term Deaf is considered to be a disability solely on the fact that an individual who is Deaf is not â€Å"normal† due to their hearing loss. Most individuals do not believe that there are any benefits or positives from being Deaf, nor do they believe that a Deaf individual will ever be able to live a happy and fulfilled life. Deaf individuals do not view themselves as disabled nor do they view their lives as a loss, rather they view their Deafness as a Gain. This is called Deaf Gain, meaning there are many positives that Deafness brings to the world. According to H-Dirksen Bauman and Joseph Murray, â€Å"Deaf Gain is defined as a reframing of ‘deaf’ as a form of†¦show more content†¦According to Deaf Studies scholar Ben Bahan,†Deaf people are visually-oriented to the world around them† (Deaf Studies Digital Journal, 2009). Therefore, Deaf individuals are m ore aware of their surroundings in comparison to a hearing individual who uses an oral language to communicate. Using a visual-based language has a Gain to the Deaf individuals perception of understanding the world, but hearing individuals can also benefit from learning a visual language, such as American Sign Language. Learning American Sign Language as a second language and becoming bilingual can help brain development as well as academic success. According to Laura-Ann Petitto who is a cognitive neuroscientist explains that, â€Å"being exposed to two languages from birth and in particular, being exposed to a signed and spoken language from birth does not cause a child to be language delayed and confused† (Petitto, 2001), rather the brain can handle dual languages. Being bilingual can enhance cognitive development and particularly learning sign language can increase reading and spelling scores. Petitto found from her research that â€Å"children who’ve had early exposure to sign language are actually stronger readers in English than children who are deaf and who have not had access to sign language as well as monolingual hearing English children† (Petitto, 2001). Sign language also helps individuals master spelling by fingerspelling words. Although there are many benefits for brainShow MoreRelated Language Development of Deaf Infants and Children Essay628 Words   |  3 PagesLanguage Development of Deaf Infants and Children My essay topic is the language development of deaf infants and children. In my opinion, this is an important topic to discuss, due to the lack of public knowledge concerning the deaf population. Through this essay, I wish to present how a child is diagnosed as having a hearing loss (including early warning signs), options that parents have for their children once diagnosed (specifically in relation to education of language), common speech teachingRead MoreDeafness : What It Is?1083 Words   |  5 Pages What is deafness? Deafness is very different to people’s general perception of what it actually is. The most common view is that it is a complete loss of hearing however deafness is defined as the lack or loss of the ability to hear. You can either be born deaf or gradually lose the ability to hear later on in life (Presbycusis). Pre natal or congenital causes of deafness may be due to a specific X chromosome being passed on through generations of familiesRead MoreDeafness Has Been A Negative Label. Being Deaf Is Considered1528 Words   |  7 PagesDeafness has been a negative label. Being Deaf is considered to be a disability solely on the belief that an individual who is Deaf is not â€Å"normal† due to their hearing loss. Most individuals do not believe that there are any benefits or positives from being Deaf, nor do they believe that a Deaf individual will ever be able to live a happy and fulfilled life. However, Deaf individuals do not view themselves as disabled nor do they view t heir lives lacking anything, rather they view their DeafnessRead MoreI Feel Like The Film Sound, And Fury880 Words   |  4 Pagesfascinating film which looks at the often overlooked deaf culture in contemporary society. By following two families, the film looks at how the societal pressures and the impacts of the cochlear implant have on deaf families, and deaf culture. For years, deaf individuals have been told they are less than or different, and after years of stigmatization, and ill treatment many people have become part of deaf culture, which does not look at deafness as a disability, but rather a different way of lifeRead MoreDeaf Studies And Deaf Education1736 Words   |  7 PagesMany of the cues used by the children or to categorize their reactions were auditory ones. If a parent called the child’s name, the child would often stop and look back to the mother. If the child heard a loud sound, they would look back to the mother for reassurance. Again, we see stud ies that indicate that the hearing capabilities of the child are valuable at least in examining the child’s responses, if not in creating the stimuli that the child is responding to in the first place. In theirRead MoreVictim from Birth Deaf Essay833 Words   |  4 Pagesfrom birth† Wendy McElroy, ifeminists.com, is about Sharon Duchesneau and her deaf son named Gauvin. Duchesneau, being a lesbian, selected a sperm donor(along with her partner Candace McCullough). Duchesneau and McCullough are also deaf. The donor they selected was based on his family history of deafness to insure their son Gauvin would also be deaf. Duchesneau goes on to say that Gauvin â€Å"is not profoundly deaf†¦ but deaf enough† (McElroy 1). Gauvin was born with slight ability hear to. Gauvin wouldRead MoreAre Cochlear Implants Necessary?1294 Words   |  6 Pagesdefinition of the deaf community â€Å" those [of] deaf and hard of hearing individuals who share a common language, common experience and values, and a common way of interacting with each other, and with hearing people.† The deaf community is viewed by the hearing world as an official handicap since they deviate from what is considered normal. Many of the deaf communities have enforced the young and informed the parents to avoid getting implants because the community embraces deaf culture and frownsRead MoreIs Deafness a Disability or a Way of Living?1593 Words   |  7 PagesTwo centuries ago, the Deaf community arose in American society as a linguistic minority. Members of this community share a particular human condition, hearing impairment. However, the use of American Sign Language, as their main means of communicating, and attendance to a residential school for people with deafness also determine their entry to this micro-culture. Despite the fact that Deaf activists argue that their community is essentially an ethnic group, Deaf culture is certainly different fromRead MoreThe Importance Of Language On Deaf Children1582 Words   |  7 PagesDeaf and Muted In every facet of life, language plays a critical role. Virginia Frazier-Maiwald describes the significance of language saying, Language is the glue that allows us to establish and maintain our relationships. It is the way in which we transmit our most intimate thoughts and feelings. It is what we use to love and discipline our children. Without a common language, our thoughts, feelings, and opinions are misinterpreted or lost. A place withoutRead MoreSpecial Education Laws And Regulations Project1468 Words   |  6 Pageshearing, wether permanent or fluctuating that adversely affects a child’s performance but that is not included under the definition of deafness† (Friend, 2012). Children who are hearing impaired make up a small percentage of the students in the school system, and it is considered to be â€Å"low incidence† impairment. In fact, in 2009, around 1.3 percent of school age children are considered to have some form of hearing impairment (Friend, 2012). Even though this represents a small number of the students in