EDSP 426: Introduction to Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Prerequisites: EDSP 361, 2.5 GPA, or permission from instructor.
Credit Hours: (3)
Introduction to the Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students examine legislation, trends, issues, etiology, identification, characteristics, Deaf culture, school related needs, communication modes, educational placement options, and organizations and agencies relevant to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families and the professionals who work with them.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
This course examines legislation, judicial mandates, history of Deaf Education and Deaf culture, and current trends and issues in the education of the deaf/hard of hearing. It covers etiology, characteristics including socio-cultural and health related problems, educational placements, communication modes used in educational practices and the effects of hearing impairments and cultural and linguistic diversity of the student and their families.
• Identification criteria
• Current incidence and prevalence figures
• Etiologies of hearing loss
• Communication modes used for educational practices
• Deaf culture
• Rights and responsibilities of parents, students, teachers, support personnel, and schools
• Educational placement options
• Effects of hearing loss on language acquisition, speech, and academic achievement
• Legislative and judicial mandates involving deaf/hard of hearing individuals
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Instructional strategies include, but are not limited to: lecture, videos and other audiovisual materials, cooperative learning, student projects, presentations, guest speakers, outside readings, internet research, and field trips.
Graduate Credit: This course is dually listed with EDSP 526. To receive graduate credit, students must complete a research paper that includes a literature review of a topic in Deaf education or Deaf culture in which the student is unfamiliar, incorporating peer reviewed, credible sources.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
Goals, objectives, and assignments in this class address the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Initial Preparation Standards and related Knowledge and Skill Items, as well as the Virginia Department of Education competencies and requirements for preparing educators.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Identify the anatomy of speech structures, auditory and visual mechanisms, production transmission and psychophysical characteristics of sound and general and specific effects of having partial or no hearing on production and reception of speech and on English language development.
2. State the characteristics, incidence and prevalence figures of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
3. Describe the etiologies of hearing impairment including those that can cause additional sensory, motor and/or learning difficulties for deaf/hard of hearing students.
4. Summarize the effects of the interrelationship among onset of hearing loss, age of identification, and provision of services on the development of the individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
5. Analyze the sociocultural, historical, and political forces unique to deaf education.
6. Explain the development and enrichment of cultural competence relative to the Deaf community.
7. Describe the influence of experience and educational placement on all developmental domains.
8. Describe the influence of family communication and culture on all developmental domains.
9. Summarize the importance of providing ongoing opportunities for interaction between individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing with diverse populations using assistive technology, i.e. peers and role models who are deaf or hard of hearing as well as hearing peers/role models of like and different cultures.
10. Compare and contrast spoken and visual language modes including cued speech, speechreading, verbal communication, listening and sign language (American Sign Language-ASL, Conceptually Accurate Signed English-CASE, Seeing Essential English-SEE 1, Signing Exact English).
11. List professional resources, organizations, services and networks that support or are relevant to the field of education of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
12. Describe the importance for providing families with support to make informed choices regarding communication modes, philosophies, and educational options
13. Identify career and vocational aspects of individuals with disabilities, including persons with hearing impairments in society.
Assessment Measures
1. Class participation
2. Research and presentations on deaf culture, communication and education options, technology and assistive listening devices, historical events/people in deaf education in the US, etc.
3. Development of information resources (website) for families with deaf or hard of hearing children
4. Observation report of an educational program for deaf and hard of hearing children.
5. Written exams
Other Course Information
This course is co-listed with EDSP 526.
Review and Approval
Revised 2013
Revised April, 2009
Revised by Karen Stinson, 2019