2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
3/06/2023 | 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Visual languages: A crucial part of early language acquisition for DHH children | DECC 212
Visual languages: A crucial part of early language acquisition for DHH children
Early hearing detection and intervention service is shifting attention away from visual mode of communication to the auditory channel of communication. Majority of the intervention services provided for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) children are speech-compliant with pro-speech professionals gradually phasing out visual language approach practitioners. Unfortunately, the speech outcomes of DHH children in oral approach intervention programs have not achieved maximum age-appropriate proficiency (Geers, et. al., 2017). This means that there are some gaps unfilled by exposure to speech only when it comes to the language experience of these children. Deficiency of language acquisition puts DHH children at a developmental disadvantage, thus calling for more effective intervention approaches. The brain of a child recognizes both visual and auditory language inputs and has the ability to process simultaneous exposure to two or more languages. Both gesture language and ASL are visual languages that can support speech acquisition and social-emotional and cognitive development of a child. This conceptual paper will attempt to justify the need for purposive concurrent use of visual languages (gesture language and ASL) with speech in early hearing and intervention services for DHH children.
- The participants will be able to identify the shortfalls of speech-only approach to early hearing intervention services
- The participants will be able to describe the benefits that the inclusion of visual languages in early hearing intervention offers
- The participants will understand the key design elements for language acquisition programs using visual and oral languages.
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Presenters/Authors
Emily Wojahn Small
(), Gallaudet University, emily.wojahn@gallaudet.edu;
Emily (Wojahn) Small, M.A, is a teacher of the deaf, with a focus on early intervention. She has experience teaching preschool and kindergarten in Hawaii and Colorado using a bilingual (ASL/English) approach and was most recently a Colorado Regional Hearing Resource Coordinator (CO-HEAR) for the Colorado Home Intervention Program (CHIP) in southeastern Colorado. Emily has completed the Infants, Toddlers and Families (ITF) interdisciplinary certificate program at Gallaudet and has returned as a first year PhD candidate there. Emily’s passions include helping families make informed decisions around communication with and education for their child and promoting a love of reading among all children.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Bernice Adekeye
(), Gallaudet University, gent2nice@yahoo.com;
I am a first year Ph.D student in the Department of Education, Gallaudet University. I completed both my first and masters' degree at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. I have a blend of Deaf Education and Chemistry background with several years teaching experience with DHH students in Nigeria. I've had a first hand taste of what language deprivation means to DHH children and I am very passionate to commit to endeavors aimed at alleviating the challenge from its foundation. I am a many time merit award winner both locally in my home country
and at international level. I was a student participant (representing my school) at the 2022 EHDI conference, and I was at CCMV Public Health and Policy Conference, Ontario Canada in August 2022 as a poster presenter.
Funfact about me: Shedding tears doesn't come handy for me.
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