Prerequisites for Learning Cued Speech in Tamil Language among Individuals with Hearing Impairment

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the prerequisite skills for learning Cued Speech in Tamil language among 45 individuals with hearing impairment in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India. Purposive sampling method was followed to select the participants. A questionnaire was developed by the authors which included three domains: a) Awareness on Tamil speech sounds, b) Skill to identify the mouth shape for Tamil speech sounds, and c) Skill to form compound letters. Data was gathered and collected through administering the questionnaire and analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. The findings of the study suggested that the individuals were poor achievers in identifying the speech sounds vital for linguistic performance and effective communication. The study recommends exposure to Tamil speech sounds, their formations, and following Mouth shape, which will help to learn the cued speech effectively to enhance the verbal communication skills of individuals with hearing impairment.