by sudingt@fcae.nova.edu » Sun Jun 13, 1999 8:42 am
Hi, speaking as a deaf educator, early childhood special
educator, parent-infant advisor (SKI*HI), and SLP, you should
investigate the oral option of introducing the world to your
child. With a 45 dB loss, that is conductive, you should be able
to get excellent amplification, giving your child only a slight
hearing loss. Even with a severe to profound loss hearing
impaired children can learn to speak, and with out the
"deaf" speech voice quality. If you want a visual aid
to support oral communication, look into cued speech. I certainly
would give my child the opportunity to be oral (without cued
speech), but it's another option. p.s. Have you tried to sign a
complete sentence and talk at the same time? I asked a very
skilled interpreter why SHE needed an interpreter whle she was
explaining the role she played working with the deaf. She said,
" I can't speak and sign at the same time." (She about
choked on her words because she is pro-sign and I am pro-oral. We
had many conversations about this before her revelation! She was
raising a mildly hearing impaired daughter with total
communication, and I was raising my profoundly deaf daughter with
oral. We have to respect all parents decisions. We don't have too
understand them! Hope I gave you something to encourage you. trac