More Than Articulation

Abstract

You have accessThe ASHA LeaderFirst Person on the Last Page1 Mar 2020More Than ArticulationA new SLP investigates what people who are deaf really want from their speech-language treatment sessions. Laura SankeyMA, CF-SLP Laura Sankey Google Scholar More articles by this author , MA, CF-SLP https://doi.org/10.1044/leader.FPLP.25032020.72 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favorites ShareFacebookTwitterLinked In I am the child of two culturally Deaf adults, both the only deaf people in their families. Both grew up trying to fit into the hearing community around them, participating in many hours of aural/oral intervention with a speech-language pathologist. As a result, my father has what many would label “normal speech,” frequently mistaken as a hearing person. My mother, on the other hand, has less-precise speech. I grew up listening to my father receive praise from strangers for his “wonderful speech,” while my mother received looks of annoyance from those who could not easily understand her. Those strangers heard only a handful of words from my parents. They did not hear the story of how each achieved the speech articulation they have, or the story of how different speech-language treatment looked in the ’70s and ’80s when they were growing up. Throughout his childhood, my father’s speech-language intervention was an experience of frustration and pain, as his hair was pulled time and time again as punishment for not articulating sounds and words correctly. His stories and those of other, older members of the Deaf community made me wonder whether children today continue to have negative experiences. This question lingered as I worked toward my master’s degree in speech-language pathology, motivating me to conduct a qualitative research study. In graduate school, we learn the basics of communication: the development of phonemes and morphemes, how to administer standardized assessments, the importance of evidence-based practices. However, we have the potential to leave a far greater impact on our clients. After interviewing young Deaf adults, I began to understand their needs beyond articulation and structured language. These adults came from diverse backgrounds. Some used hearing aids, while others used cochlear implants. Some transferred to schools for the Deaf, while others remained in mainstream education until graduating high school. However, they shared an experience of intense aural/oral intervention, with years of trying to fit in to the hearing world around them. Listening to—or rather watching—these young adults share their experiences, it became clear that what they wanted most from their time with SLPs was not perfect speech. It was not strong aural skills. What they wanted most was to understand their identity as Deaf individuals, to find a community of peers and role models who shared their experiences, positive and negative. Their advice to clinicians who work with children who are deaf? Incorporate aspects of Deaf culture and the Deaf community into treatment sessions. Expose students to Deaf role models. I am completing my clinical fellowship at the Missouri School for the Deaf. I provide assessment and intervention services to students through a variety of communication modalities. With the voices of those young Deaf adults in mind, I take advantage of opportunities whenever possible to incorporate Deaf people and their work into my sessions. In doing so, I hope to show my students the beauty that lies in their language, their culture, and the community that surrounds them. Author Notes Laura Sankey, MA, CF-SLP, is a clinician at the Missouri School for the Deaf in Fulton. [email protected] Advertising Disclaimer | Advertise With Us Advertising Disclaimer | Advertise With Us Additional Resources FiguresSourcesRelatedDetails Volume 25Issue 2March 2020 Get Permissions Add to your Mendeley library History Published in print: Feb 28, 2020 Metrics Downloaded 1,758 times Topicsasha-topicsleader_do_tagleader-topicsasha-article-typesCopyright & Permissions© 2020 American Speech-Language-Hearing AssociationLoading ...