This study examined the effects of speechreading sentence perception across three speaker viewing angles: front view, quarter view, and side view. The performance of a female adult with postlingual hearing loss was measured at each angle. Results indicated that the side view angle was the most effective, though performance at the other angles was…

This paper summarizes, integrates and evaluates the literature on adventitious deafness. Issues explored include: a comparison of congenital and adventitious deafness, psychiatric problems among late-deafened individuals, effects of acquired deafness on identity and personal control, and adventitious deafness among the elderly. (Author/PB)

Using national survey data, this study found that the smoking prevalence among postlingually deafened adults was not significantly different than hearing adults. Prelingually deafened adults were found to be less likely to smoke than hearing adults, even though they had less education and lower incomes, factors usually associated with higher…

This study reviewed records of several American schools for the deaf in the 19th century concerning the stated causes of deafness given by parents. The high rate of adventitious deafness is noted. Stated causes are categorized into: fevers, inflammations, medicines/poisons, trauma, heat/cold, ear problems, nervous system problems, head/neck…

This study compared the speech perception skills over time (mean = 3.5 years) of 74 prelingually deaf children using cochlear implants with the predicted speech perception skills of 58 similar children using hearing aids. Generally, speech perception scores for the children using cochlear implants were higher that those predicted for children with…

A survey of adventitiously deafened adults (N=25) found that 16 subjects used assistive devices including telecaptioners, telecommunication/telephone devices for the deaf, and alerting devices, and that nine subjects used no assistive devices. Subjects using devices reported improved independence, ability to communicate, and quality of life.…

This study compared American Sign Language (ASL) abilities in 36 deaf adults who acquired ASL either in early childhood or in later childhood and who were born deaf or later lost their hearing. Subjects who acquired ASL as a second language after early childhood outperformed those who acquired it as a first language at the same age. (Author/DB)

This article introduces a reprint of an 1835 article by Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard entitled, "Existing State of the Art of Instructing the Deaf and Dumb". It reviews Barnard's background and achievements (including 25 years as the president of Columbia College), his familial progressive deafness, and his advanced views on communication…

Data from 1,309 persons who were working and became hard of hearing or deafened between the ages of 18 and 65 are analyzed to determine work outcomes in terms of occupation, perception of work achievement, earning power, support of supervisors and colleagues, and work adaptations. Data show that work success is possible and usual after…

Analysis of deaf college students' (N=100) performance on the Degrees of Reading Power test (which assesses reading comprehension with use of a modified cloze procedure) revealed that postlingually deaf students scored higher than prelingually deaf students. Scores correlated with degree of hearing loss for prelingually deaf students and…

The speech of a five year old boy who suffered a profound hearing loss following meningitis was sampled at two week intervals for nine months. It was speculated that phonetic processes such as diphthongization, syllabification, and prolonged duration may be strategies for enhancing feedback during speech. (Author)

The speech perception performance of 10 congenitally deaf and 3 postlingually deafened children who received multichannel cochlear implants were compared at preimplant and 6-month intervals up to 2 years. The congenitally deaf children did not exhibit measurably improved performance until after 12 months or more of implant use, whereas…

The 1984-85 Venezuelan Survey of Deaf Children collected information on 804 deaf students between ages 3 and 14. Among findings were that 29% of the cases were caused by maternal rubella, that 36% had additional handicaps, and that meningitis was the most frequently reported after-birth cause of hearing losses. (Author/DB)

This digest uses a question-and-answer format to summarize issues in the use of cochlear implants (an array of electrodes surgically implanted into the cochlea) with deaf or hard-of-hearing children. It describes the implants and summarizes the research on the effectiveness of the devices, which indicates that the devices are most effective in…

This article discusses the incorporation of architectural principles into redesigning a classroom at York University (Ontario) for a mix of university students and professors/lecturers who are culturally deaf, oral deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened, and hearing. Special design features include lighting and color, noise control, furniture, and…