Cued Speech for Speech, Language, and Communication

[jillio]

"Glad Cornett had the insight not to "just" adopt signlanguage but looked further, realising that there is no need for hearing parents to learn a complete new language in order to communicate with their deaf children, but that using one's own language in a different form was much easier and just as effective. Perhaps more.."

Cued speech was developed for students who were fluent in ASL - and CS was intended to accompany ASL in terms of developing literacy skills. ASL does not really work well with phonetics and phonemic awareness (obviously), so therefore CS is supposed to help with literacy in that regard.

It was never intended to be used for communication purposes. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't be used for communication.

However, you brought up a very excellent point- one of the biggest obstacles of hearing parents of deaf children is that is difficult for many parents to learn a second language OR some parents simply refuse to learn a second language. Some parents want to learn it but lack resources or means to learn (e.g, economic status) and unfortunately, in the United States, the support system for parents of deaf children is very weak (if it exists at all). So therefore, Cued Speech certainly can bridge the gap if parents choose to use it as a communication mode for their child. It is supposed to be easy to learn and use. I learned how to cue fluently in about three days with ongoing practice. I then went to Louisana and got to use it with people who used on a regular basis. Nearly all of them used ASL as well.

It is a shame that there is a severe lacking in research on the effectiveness (or lack of) of using CS whether it be for communication, reading, writing, etc.

You bring up a good point. I wonder, how many of those parents who are unwilling to learn ASL would be willing to learn and use consistently, any other manual system? Those who are unwilling to learn and use ASL are usually also unwilling to use SEE, PSE, CS, or any other system that would permit them fuller communication with their child.

And it was devised for students who were already fluent in ASL as a literacy tool, not as a replacement for full language approaches. I, too, have no porblem with CS being used in the manner in which it was intended, if it proves to be useful in that context. However, I have a big problem when it is marketed to the hearing parent as a miraculous system of providing language acquisition for a deaf child. And marketing is exactly what is going on here. It is being sold to the hearing parent, and with the consequence of further language delays for the deaf child. It was devised by a hearing mathemetician, and is now being marketed by an organization of hearing individuals with no concern for the deaf perspective of its usefulness. Unfounded claims of successes and potential uses are being made by people with no expertise in Deaf Ed, no expertise in liguistics, no expertise in cognitive or educational psychology, and in fact, no expertise in anything except sales techniques.

 

[jillio]

I pretty much only talk to my family. They usuallly talk for me if we are out in stores.

You know I have Asperger's syndrome. My husband too.He is hearing. So we are a handicapped couple. But we cling together.

It was a big battle to escape family for us and get married, but we did it and are successful and have two grown children.

So I guess I am saying I wouldn't communicate any more even if I did sign.

Plus in my right ear it is only 70db loss, so I think I hear enough to lipread pretty well.

You know, Bottesini, I don't see you and your husband as a "handicapped" couple at all. Obviously, despite the obstacles that have been placed in your way, you have managed to live a successful and satisfying life. Perhaps you are a couple with disabilities, but you most certainly are not "handicapped"!

 

[Bottesini]

You know, Bottesini, I don't see you and your husband as a "handicapped" couple at all. Obviously, despite the obstacles that have been placed in your way, you have managed to live a successful and satisfying life. Perhaps you are a couple with disabilities, but you most certainly are not "handicapped"!

Thank you Jillio! We work pretty hard.

 

[jillio]

Thank you Jillio! We work pretty hard.

And your willingness to work hard to overcome your challenges is exactly what makes you definately not "handicapped". I admire you.

 

[loml]

Thanks loml for the article.

The potential for CS in combination with CI is absolutely there...

Glad Cornett had the insight not to "just" adopt signlanguage but looked further, realising that there is no need for hearing parents to learn a complete new language in order to communicate with their deaf children, but that using one's own language in a different form was much easier and just as effective. Perhaps more..

Obviously, a system developed by a HEARING" person in a time when "ORAL" was the law, is not making Cued Speech popular among the many deaf/Deaf people that suffered from the oral education...
Once one believes that "sign is the only way"... Cued Speech is the enemy.
So, ignoring it, backstabbing and misinformation is then the way to handle Cued Speech.

Ah well...
... still haven't seen any reference to research that showed how Cued Speech is damaging....
... the opposite is readily available... for those who want to find it and read it. And more and more is being published. Especially - again - in combination with CI.

One of the best arguments I heard by a deaf person that grew up with cued speech is "I don't need it any more".... mission accomplished.

Again, thanks loml for presenting positive information here...
.... don't stop..

Cloggy - You are welcome!

 

[deafdyke]

,

too, have no porblem with CS being used in the manner in which it was intended, if it proves to be useful in that context. However, I have a big problem when it is marketed to the hearing parent as a miraculous system of providing language acquisition for a deaf child. And marketing is exactly what is going on here. It is being sold to the hearing parent, and with the consequence of further language delays for the deaf child. It was devised by a hearing mathemetician, and is now being marketed by an organization of hearing individuals with no concern for the deaf perspective of its usefulness. Unfounded claims of successes and potential uses are being made by people with no expertise in Deaf Ed, no expertise in liguistics, no expertise in cognitive or educational psychology, and in fact, no expertise in anything except sales techniques.

Ditto! Like I'm perfectly OK with people using it as a supplemental technique. I just think its dumb to use it as a primary technique. That's as dumb as using oral only. Go with a full toolbox!

 

[deafskeptic]

You bring up a good point. I wonder, how many of those parents who are unwilling to learn ASL would be willing to learn and use consistently, any other manual system? Those who are unwilling to learn and use ASL are usually also unwilling to use SEE, PSE, CS, or any other system that would permit them fuller communication with their child.

And it was devised for students who were already fluent in ASL as a literacy tool, not as a replacement for full language approaches. I, too, have no porblem with CS being used in the manner in which it was intended, if it proves to be useful in that context. However, I have a big problem when it is marketed to the hearing parent as a miraculous system of providing language acquisition for a deaf child. And marketing is exactly what is going on here. It is being sold to the hearing parent, and with the consequence of further language delays for the deaf child. It was devised by a hearing mathemetician, and is now being marketed by an organization of hearing individuals with no concern for the deaf perspective of its usefulness. Unfounded claims of successes and potential uses are being made by people with no expertise in Deaf Ed, no expertise in liguistics, no expertise in cognitive or educational psychology, and in fact, no expertise in anything except sales techniques.

Sales Techniques? I consider Loml an example of what NOT to do as a sales person.

 

[jillio]

Sales Techniques? I consider Loml an example of what NOT to do as a sales person.

You are right about that! She is attempting to sell, but getting the opposite results.

 

[shel90]

Sales Techniques? I consider Loml an example of what NOT to do as a sales person.

LOL..

I think AD is being used for free advertising and doesnt that go against the AD policies here?

 

[dreama]

I gotta admit..I am still very uneducated about Asperger's syndrome. I would love to learn from you and others on your first hand personal experiences with it so I can be a better teacher for those students who have it.

I can be blunt although these days when I communicate with the hearing world I am more aware then I used to be yet this awareness causes me more anxiety as I worry a lot about wether I've done the right thing or not. When I am in group settings I get very tired. You also asked how a person can communicate without speech or signing. I communicate via deafblind manual or block captial letters on my hand as I am also deafblind. I'm so used to hiding antisocial AS type behavior that a lot of people are very supprised that I have got it. That's the way I've been brought up though. I was never taught to deal with my disability I was just punished when I didn't behave 'normally'. As a result I have also got mental health problems too.

 

[jillio]

I can be blunt although these days when I communicate with the hearing world I am more aware then I used to be yet this awareness causes me more anxiety as I worry a lot about wether I've done the right thing or not. When I am in group settings I get very tired. You also asked how a person can communicate without speech or signing. I communicate via deafblind manual or block captial letters on my hand as I am also deafblind. I'm so used to hiding antisocial AS type behavior that a lot of people are very supprised that I have got it. That's the way I've been brought up though. I was never taught to deal with my disability I was just punished when I didn't behave 'normally'. As a result I have also got mental health problems too.

I have a question, dreama. I know of an autistic individual that is unable to communicate at all with spoken language. However, she is extremely intelligent, and has no problems with receptive language. She is currently attending college classes with an aid. The aid holds her message board, and she types in answers to questions during lecture, or questions she has about the material being covered, and the board converts her typed message into a computerized vioce transcription.

Would it be possible for you to use such a devise with a brailled keyboard, or would you even find it useful? Of course the individual I referred to is severly autistic, not just diagnosed with Asperger's, but I find her case facinating.

 

[dreama]

Hi Jilli:
I can speak. I'm told I have good speech. So with me people will just write in block capitals on my hand although that can be slow. I thought of getting a face to face where people can type messages to me and they would appear in braille. It can be used with a braille note taker. I'm also interested in a Globel Possitioning device but these things cost a fortune.

So I make do with block capital letters for the time being.

 

[jillio]

Hi Jilli:
I can speak. I'm told I have good speech. So with me people will just write in block capitals on my hand although that can be slow. I thought of getting a face to face where people can type messages to me and they would appear in braille. It can be used with a braille note taker. I'm also interested in a Globel Possitioning device but these things cost a fortune.

So I make do with block capital letters for the time being.

Ahh, I see. Thanks for explaining for me!