Improving Practices for Students with Hearing Impairments

Abstract

The issues in deaf education are very complex, and the population is far from homogeneous. This article presents research, describes current practices in education of students who are deaf and hard of hearing, and discusses the relevance of their implications to practitioners. First, a chronicle of federal efforts to address the needs of students who are deaf and hard of hearing is provided. Next, current statistics on the population are illustrated followed by a presentation of current research on educational outcomes and their implications. In final sections, communication options and current challenges are presented followed by descriptions of research surrounding new technologies, approaches, and options. New challenges facing the population, promising practices, and recommendations for advancing the field are also highlighted.