Oral interpretation is one means of helping hearing-impaired speechreaders in certain communication situations. This paper outlines the usefulness of oral interpretation and describes who can benefit from an oral interpreter, characteristics of an oral interpreter, alternatives to professional interpreters, methods of locating oral interpreters,…

Presents information on deafness and deaf people that is helpful to librarians communicating with deaf patrons. Communication modes and preferences are discussed, including speaking and facial expression, speech reading, lipreading, and sign language; and methods of optimizing conditions for good communication are described. (11 references) (LRW)

This pamphlet answers many questions about demographic aspects of hearing-impaired individuals, such as the number of hearing-impaired and deaf persons in the United States, the number with hearing problems that restrict communication, the number of hearing-impaired students and number of deaf college students, the demographic groups which have a…

The Central Speech and Hearing Clinic in Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada) was established by families of young children with hearing impairments, who perceived the need for an auditory-verbal clinic. The processes and challenges involved in the clinic's development are described, including fund raising and resistance to the program by professionals and…

This paper reviews the historical development of Auditory-Verbal International, which was established as a nonprofit organization to achieve the goal of increasing availability and effectiveness of the auditory-verbal approach for individuals with hearing impairments. The group's position statement is presented, along with principles of…

This paper deals with the auditory-verbal therapy process as implemented with two children (ages three and seven) with hearing impairments, enrolled in the Auditory-Verbal Therapy Programme of North York (Ontario) General Hospital. The paper contains audiological information, long-term objectives, and a detailed lesson plan for each child. (JDD)

A practitioner reflects on 30 years of work with parents of hearing-impaired children. She describes her own personal experiences, education, and professional development working directly with parents and babies, as a university professor, and as a school principal. She stresses the importance of parental participation for effective oral…

This paper discusses the issue of oral versus sign language in educating people who are deaf, focusing on Hungary, which currently emphasizes oralism and discourages the use of Hungarian Sign Language. Teachers of people who are hearing impaired are trained to use the acoustic channel and view signing as an obstacle to the integration of deaf…

The article compares approaches to mainstreaming of students with hearing impairments in Spain and the United States. Discussed are mainstreaming as a matter of law, the importance of deaf role models, school placement in the U.S., integration practices in Spain, and the prevalence of oralism in Spain. (DB)

The National Aural Group was formed to promote the use of an auditory-oral approach with families of very young children with hearing impairments in the United Kingdom. The group's activities include summer school programs to educate parents, follow-up weekend sessions, support networks and helplines, and fact sheets and booklets. (JDD)

Provides an overview of past and present library services to, and policies about, deaf people. Unique characteristics of the deaf community are discussed; recent developments in deaf studies, communication techniques, and laws affecting library services to deaf people are reviewed; and the roles libraries can play in providing services are…

This paper describes a combination of cued speech and signs called Complete Signed and Cued French, which is designed to enable deaf children to progress simultaneously in signed and spoken language, respect each child's learning rhythm, and develop expressive skills in conjunction with comprehension abilities. (Author/JDD)

Today, the virtual presentation is catching on rapidly in small, medium, and large businesses alike. A virtual presentation is one delivered live from a desktop or laptop computer to an audience anywhere in the world where there is Internet access. These new Web-based technologies are easy to use and inexpensive, making them readily accessible for…

The Larry Jarret House is a one-week in-residence program of the Helen Beebe Speech and Hearing Center in Easton, Pennsylvania, for parents of children with hearing impairments. The program is designed to help parents maximize their child's use of residual hearing in daily life situations to develop spoken language. (JDD)

An exchange program was established to assist American and Soviet special educators in learning about the other country's educational theory and practice. An American participant describes Soviet education of deaf students as being highly structured, involving nationally standardized curricula and methods, using a residential school model, and…