Prelinguistic vocal development is "the process by which infants and toddlers produce increasingly more complex, phonetically diverse, and speech-like utterances before they say words on a regular basis" (Ertmer, 2005, p. 85). Research has shown that children with bilateral, moderate-to-profound hearing loss experience delays and deficits in vocal…

This investigation sought to answer two questions: (1) Do children who receive cochlear implants (CIs) by 3;0 (years; months) improve speech intelligibility significantly during their third year of cochlear implant use? (2) How do the intelligibility scores of young CI recipients compare to those reported in the literature for children who receive…

The current study examined the early literacy skills of kindergartners with hearing loss who were enrolled in individual inclusion or group inclusion programs as well as those of children with typical hearing. We also examined the relationship between early literacy skills and background variables such as degree of hearing loss, type of sensory…

Vibratory and manual speech-aid systems are being used to provide direct cues on articulation of phonemes and sequences of phonemes for deaf children. (Author)

Recent research and development projects on sensory aids for improving speech perception and production of hearing impaired persons were reported at an international Conference on Speech-Processing Aids for the Deaf held at Gallaudet College in 1977. (SBH)

Factors leading to recognition of the value of acoustic amplification, as employed in the Auditory Global approach to educating hearing impaired children, include the identification of auditory ability differences in children called deaf, the contribution of acoustic phonetics to the understanding of speech perception, and early and comprehensive…

Characteristics of an effective sensory aid for the hearing impaired child are reviewed, the development of educational aids is traced, and a computer-assisted instructional program with a sensory interface is seen as the next step in the advancement of technology with the hearing impaired. (SB)

Provided is an overview of technological devices which have been designed to help the deaf with problems of warning communication (both face-to-face and at a distance), education, entertainment, and acquisition of information. (Author/LS)

Results of a program using vibrotactile and electrocutaneous vocoder in speech reception and production training with 13 profoundly hearing impaired Ss (3-6 years old) showed progress in speech communication not seen prior to training with tactual vocoders. (CL)

The study investigated the effects of six telephone conditions on discrimination in 19 hearing impaired adults. No significant differences were found among the unaided, acoustically coupled, and magnetically coupled listening modes. Ss understood words significantly better using an amplifier handset, regardless of listening mode. (Author/CL)

Twenty severely to profoundly hearing-impaired high school students (ages 15-19) evidenced marked improvement in average vocal pitch after implementation of a systematic curriculum that integrated visual and tactile sensory aids into daily speech training. Those using a visual display showed greatest progress. The eight participating teachers…