Changes in technology have had a dramatic effect on how children who are deaf or hard of hearing are taught, according to a report from Project Forum at the National Association of State Directors of Special Education.
The points in particular to the use of cochlear implants, surgically implanted electronic devices that give a sense of sound for wearers. States surveyed said the device has led to:
鈥� More acceptance of children who are deaf or hard of hearing by classroom teachers;
鈥� The need for specific accommodations in the classroom rather than specialized instruction;
鈥� A decrease in the number of schools for the deaf;
鈥� Decreasing use of sign language; and
鈥� An increased need for speech-language pathologists experienced at working with deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
