Toward a Psychology of Deafness

Providing an in-depth examination of the impact of deafness on cognitive and psychosocial development, this clearly written book synthesizes salient theory and research findings from an interdisciplinary perspective. The issues behind the clinical vs. cultural debate are explored in detail, including oralism, total communication, and the use of American Sign Language -- the three major communication philosophies currently influencing the education of deaf children. With the exception of a chapter on culture and identity, the major focus of the book is on individuals with severe to profound hearing impairment. Whether these individuals are linked to a world of vision or a world of audition is explored in some detail; the authors point out the pervasive implications of this issue for the development of cognition, language and literacy.