Many people assume that being deaf means an individual cannot speak. This is a common misconception, as many deaf individuals do use spoken language. While hearing plays a role in typical speech development, its absence does not automatically prevent speech.
How Speech is Learned
Speech acquisition in hearing individuals begins with auditory exposure. Babies listen to sounds and language, forming the basis for their vocalizations. They imitate these sounds, refining pronunciation through self-correction based on auditory feedback. This continuous loop of hearing, imitating, and adjusting helps develop clear articulation, vocabulary, and grammar. Hearing one’s own voice and others’ allows for fine-tuning of pitch, volume, and rhythm.
Factors Influencing Spoken Language in Deaf Individuals
Several factors influence a deaf person’s ability to speak, including when hearing loss occurred. Individuals with pre-lingual deafness, born deaf or losing hearing before acquiring language (before age three), face difficulty developing spoken language due to lack of early auditory input. Conversely, those with post-lingual deafness, losing hearing after developing speech, often retain speaking abilities, though speech quality might change without auditory feedback.
The degree of hearing loss also plays a role; individuals with partial hearing loss (hard of hearing) may have more residual hearing than those with profound deafness. Early diagnosis and intervention are influential for children born deaf or with significant hearing loss. Technologies like hearing aids or cochlear implants, combined with specialized therapy, can improve spoken language outcomes.
Strategies for Developing and Maintaining Spoken Language
Speech-language pathologists help deaf individuals develop or maintain spoken language. They work on various aspects of speech production, including teaching articulation, breath control, and speech rhythm and intonation. Therapy often uses visual and tactile cues, alongside any residual hearing, to help individuals learn and monitor their speech.
Assistive listening devices are important. Hearing aids amplify sounds, making them accessible to individuals with some residual hearing. Cochlear implants, surgically placed electronic devices, bypass damaged parts of the ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve, providing a sense of sound to those with severe to profound hearing loss. These devices do not restore normal hearing, but they provide auditory information important for developing and monitoring speech. Auditory-Verbal Therapy is an approach that emphasizes developing listening skills and spoken language through hearing technology.
Beyond Spoken Communication
While many deaf individuals do speak, spoken language is one of several ways deaf people communicate. Sign languages, such as American Sign Language (ASL), are complete visual languages with their own grammar and syntax, widely used within the deaf community. Lip-reading, or speech-reading, involves understanding speech by observing a speaker’s mouth movements and facial expressions, though it can be challenging as many sounds look similar on the lips. Written communication is another common and effective method. Communication method choice is personal, depending on individual preferences, age of onset of deafness, and educational background.