Literacy Achievement of Deaf Learners With Cochlear Implants

• In Event: Research on the Education of Deaf Persons

Abstract

For deaf learners with cochlear implants it may be the case that enhanced access to spoken language will have a positive impact on literacy development in ways that no shifts in pedagogy or communication approach have yet accomplished. To investigate this contention, reading and writing levels of a cohort of school-aged students with cochlear implants were examined to establish whether their literacy skills approach those of their hearing age peers. A particular focus of the study was to examine written language development, as studies to date have focused on reading rather than writing. As well, data was collected to investigate the extent to which factors such as age of implantation and presence of additional disabilities impacted on literacy outcomes.

Authors

• Connie C. Mayer, York University

• Peter Papoulidis, Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority

• Pam Millett, York University