Advances in the Spoken Language Development of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children: (Perspectives on Deafness)

Throughout history there have been efforts to help deaf children develop spoken language through which they could have full access to the hearing world. These efforts, although pursued seriously and with great care, frequently proved fruitless, and often only resulted in passionate arguments over the efficacy of particular approaches. Although some deaf children did develop spoken language, there was little evidence to suggest that this development had been facilitated by any particular education approach, and moreover, many, even most deaf children--especially those with profound loss--never develop spoken language at all. Recent technological advances, however, have led to more positive expectations for deaf children's acquisition of spoken language: Innovative testing procedures for hearing allow for early identification of loss that leads to intervention services during the first weeks and months of life. Programmable hearing aids allow more children to make use of residual hearing abilities. Children with the most profound losses are able to reap greater benefits from cochlear-implant technologies. At the same time, there have been great advances in research into the processes of deaf children's language development and the outcomes they experience. As a result, we are, for the first time, accruing a sufficient base of evidence and information to allow reliable predictions about children's progress that will, in turn, lead to further advances. The contributors to this volume are recognized leaders in this research, and here they present the latest information on both the new world evolving for deaf and hard-of-hearing children and the improved expectations for their acquisition of spoken language. Chapters cover topics such as the significance of early vocalizations, the uses and potential of technological advances, and the cognitive processes related to spoken language. The contributors provide objective information from children in a variety of programming: using signs; using speech only; using cued speech, and cutting-edge information on the language development of children using cochlear implants and the innovations in service provision. Along with its companion volume, Advances in Sign-Language Development of Deaf Children, this book will provide a deep and broad picture of what is known about deaf children's language development in a variety of situations and contexts. From this base of information, progress in research and its application will accelerate, and barriers to deaf children's full participation in the world around them will continue to be overcome.

Table of Contents:
1. Spoken Language Development of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children: A Historical and Theoretical Perspective ; 2. Vocal Language Development in Deaf Infants: New Challenges ; 3. Development of Communicative Behaviour as a Precursor of Spoken Language in Hearing Infants, with Implications for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Infants ; 4. Audiological Advancement and the Acquisition of Spoken Language in Deaf Children ; 5. Relationships among Speech Perception and Language Measures in Hard-of-Hearing Children ; 6. The Oral Methods and Spoken Language Acquisition ; 7. Family-Centered Practice in Early Intervention for Oral Language Development: Philosophy, Methods and Results ; 8. Speech Production and Spoken Language Development of Children Using "Total Communication" ; 9. The Effect of Cued Speech on the Development of Spoken Language ; 10. A Computer-Animated Tutor for Language Learning: Research and Applications ; 11. Spoken Language in Children with Cochlear Implants ; 12. The Process and Early Outcomes of Cochlear Implantation by Three Years of Age ; 13. Early Identification, Communication Modality and the Development of Speech and Spoken Language Skills: Patterns and Considerations ; 14. Working Memory Capacity, Verbal Rehearsal Speed, and Scanning in Deaf Children with Cochlear Implants

Review :
"This book, part of the series Perspectives on Deafness, is a compilation of contributions by recognized leaders in the field, providing broad information about deaf children's language development...[It includes] state-of-the-art approaches to the identification and remediation of deafness or hearing loss in children, as well as broad approaches to their acquisition of language--either oral/spoken or sign."--Doody's "This book, part of the series Perspectives on Deafness, is a compilation of contributions by recognized leaders in the field, providing broad information about deaf children's language development...[It includes] state-of-the-art approaches to the identification and remediation of deafness or hearing loss in children, as well as broad approaches to their acquisition of language--either oral/spoken or sign."--Doody's "The review of research is a strong feature of the book...It represents and extremely effective and up-to-date compilation of research and practice in the field and can be considered as an excellent resource for those interested in current research, further research, or the development or review of programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing children...It is highly recommended."--Merv Hyde, Griffith University