EDSP 526

I. Course Title: Introduction to Deaf and Hard of Hearing

II. Course Number: EDSP 526

III. Credit Hours: 3 credits

IV. Prerequisites: EDSP 651, EDSP 361 or permission of instructor.

V. Course Description: 

Introduction to the education of deaf and hard of hearing students (PreK-12) for prospective teachers and other professionals serving deaf/hard of hearing students. iIncludes legislation, trends, issues, etiology, identification, characteristics, Deaf culture, school related needs, communication modes, educational placement options, and organizations and agencies relevant to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families and the professionals who work with them.

VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:

This course examines legislation, judicial mandates, history of Deaf Education and Deaf culture, and current trends and issues in the education of the deaf/hard of hearing. It covers etiology, characteristics including socio-cultural and health related problems, educational placements, communication modes used in educational practices and the effects of hearing impairments and cultural diversity on the student and their families.
    1) Identification criteria
    2) Current incidence and prevalence figures
    3) Etiologies of hearing loss
    4) Communication modes used for educational practices
    5) Deaf culture
    6) Rights and responsibilities of parents, students, teachers, support personnel, and schools
    7) Educational placement options
    8) Effects of hearing loss on language acquisition, speech, and academic achievement
    9) Legislative and judicial mandates involving deaf/hard of hearing individuals

VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:

Instructional strategies may include, but are not limited to: lecture, videos and other audiovisual materials, cooperative learning, student projects, presentations, guest speakers, outside readings, and internet research.

VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:

Goals, objectives, and assignments in this class address the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Initial Preparation Standards and related Knowledge and Skills Items, as well as the Virginia Department of Education Competencies and requirements for preparing educators. 

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. State the characteristics, incidence, and prevalence figures of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
2. Describe the etiologies of hearing impairment including those that can cause additional sensory, motor and/or learning difficulties for deaf/hard of hearing students.
3. Summarize the effects of the interrelationship among onset of hearing loss, age of identification, and provision of early intervention services on the language development of the individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
4. Analyze the sociocultural, historical, and political forces unique to deaf education.
5. Explain the development and enrichment of cultural competence relative to the Deaf community.
6. Describe the influence of educational placement, family communication, language, cultural identity, socioeconomic status, home and community environment and child maltreatment has on development and learning domains.
7. Summarize the importance of ongoing opportunities for interaction between individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing with diverse populations using assistive technology, i.e., peers and role models who are deaf or hard of hearing as well as hearing peers/role models of like and different cultures.
8. Compare and contrast spoken and visual language models including cued speech, speechreading, verbal communication, listening and sign language (American Sign Language (ASL), Conceptually Accurate Signed English (CASE), Seeing Essential English (SEE 1), Signing Exact English)
9. List professional resources, organizations, services and networks that support or are relevant to the field of education of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
10. Describe the importance of providing families with support to make informed choices regarding communication modes, philosophies, and educational options and support all LRE options to facilitate decisions taking communication into account.
11. Identify career and vocational aspects of individuals with disabilities, including persons with hearing impairments in society. 
12. Identify the anatomy of speech structures, auditory and visual mechanisms, production, transmission and psychophysical characteristics of sound. 

VIII. Assessment Measures:

Assessment measures may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Presentations
• Development of information resources for families with deaf or hard of hearing children
• Research and presentation of a major historical development or person in deaf education in the United States
• Observation report of an educational program for deaf and hard of hearing child
• Research project investigating an aspect of Deaf Culture or the Community
• Written Exams

 

Other Course Information: This course is co-listed with EDSP 426.

Review and Approval

April 2009

May 11, 2015

Revised by Karen Stinson 2019