SPHR 2108 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Individualized Education Program, Cochlear Implant, Deaf Culture
Cochlear Implants:
Deaf World vs. Hearing World
What are CIs?
A Cochlear Implant is a device that collects speech signals and converts them into electrical
impulses that are then sent to the auditory nerve. This allows an individual who normally would
not be able to hear these speech signals, even with amplification devices (such as hearing aids)
to better hear, process, and understand speech.
What is Deaf Culture
● Just like any other culture, has its own language, traditions, customs
● ASL
● Bilingual school programs so children are fluent in ASL and written English
● Collectivist society vs. American individualism
● Capital D Deaf vs little d deaf
Cultural vs. Medical Perspectives: Is there a compromise?
● Deafness is a disability, something that negatively affects the quality of someone’s life.
● Why would people NOT want to get their hearing fixed?
● Deaf people will be better off with their hearing “restored” as they will be better able to
integrate with the hearing world
● Deaf gain, not hearing loss
● Deaf identity
● Lives not unfulfilled
● Being taken out of classes for speech therapy
● Being made to assimilate/conform to Hearing world.
● Roland et. al
Compromise: a combination of the recognition of Deaf culture, as well as implementing tools to
aid people who want to use speech as a communication method.
How does the hearing world perceive Deaf Culture?
● Hearing parents of deaf children
○ 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents
○ Hearing parents first see having a child who is deaf as a challenge they need to overcome
○ Constant argument about whether to give them intervention or let them learn ASL
■ Oralist method of communication vs. ASL vs. bimodal communication
○ Need to be presented with all options for the child
● Deaf parents of deaf children
○ Most Deaf parents have hearing children (CODA)
○ Deaf parents embrace having a Deaf child as a celebration
■ Passing down their culture to their child
○ Need to be presented with all options for the child
The negative impacts of IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) ensures that students with disabilities are provided
with Free and Appropriate Public Education.
IDEA provides an Individualized Education Plan for each child which includes placing them in
their “Least Restrictive Environment”
● Often times for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, their LRE is determined to be a
mainstream school
○ Can create an environment of isolation where students are separated from other Deaf
students
○ Sometimes students are placed in special education classes because that’s where their
needs can be accommodated even if they do not have intellectual disabilities
What are The Global Perspectives on Deaf culture and Sign Language?
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
A cochlear implant is a device that collects speech signals and converts them into electrical impulses that are then sent to the auditory nerve. This allows an individual who normally would not be able to hear these speech signals, even with amplification devices (such as hearing aids) to better hear, process, and understand speech. Just like any other culture, has its own language, traditions, customs. Bilingual school programs so children are fluent in asl and written english. Capital d deaf vs little d deaf. Deafness is a disability, something that negatively affects the quality of someone"s life. Deaf people will be better off with their hearing restored as they will be better able to integrate with the hearing world. Being taken out of classes for speech therapy. Being made to assimilate/conform to hearing world. Compromise: a combination of the recognition of deaf culture, as well as implementing tools to aid people who want to use speech as a communication method.