Development of Lexical Comprehension in a Profoundly Deaf Child Using a Wearable, Vibrotactile Communication Aid
- 1 July 1983
- journal article
- Published by American Speech Language Hearing Association in Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools
- Vol. 14 (3) , 138-149
- https://doi.org/10.1044/0161-1461.1403.138
Abstract
A longitudinal study of a profoundly deaf young child learning oral language with the aid of a vibrotactile communication device was conducted for 10 months. Audio-and videotapes and written observational notes were collected on Tabitha from ages 33–43 months while she used the device. At 33 months, Tabitha produced limited vocalization and inconsistently understood five words through speechreading. After 10 months of training with the device and traditional aural-oral teaching techniques, this child acquired an understanding of 469 words. A composite list of the first 100 words that Tabitha understood through speechreading was analyzed and compared with data from a group of younger, hearing children. The profoundly deaf child exhibited a similar developmental pattern for rate of acquisition and stages of lexical comprehension. Both Tabitha and the hearing children understood more than one class of words from the beginning. Word-order differences were found for the profoundly deaf child and reflected teaching techniques.Keywords
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