Philadelphia, PA - June 7, 2005 - A new free resource and film about oral deaf education (ODE), a collaborative, family-centered approach that teaches language and listening skills to children who are deaf or hard of hearing, is now available. This resource provides evidence-based information that shows children who are identified early (ideally before leaving the hospital as infants), given access to sound through hearing aids or cochlear implants, and begin intensive early oral deaf education can acquire auditory skills in step with their hearing peers.
The resource includes a new film on DVD called Hear the Difference, which visits several children who are deaf or hard of hearing in their infancy and again in grade school five years later. The film highlights the perspectives of these children and their families and healthcare professionals, and provides insights about the positive impact oral deaf education has had on their lives. The DVD also features a film appropriate for parents and office staff members. This information can support healthcare providers in providing parents with the information needed to make the most informed choices for their child with hearing loss.
Oral deaf education is a collaborative, family-centered approach that builds the child's confidence and life skills along with language and listening skills. It combines today's sophisticated hearing technologies with intensive early intervention to teach children to listen and talk.
To order a free professional education resource, call 1-877-ORALDEAF or visit www.oraldeafed.org.
