Acknowledgements

Chapter 1 The nature of human communication

Communication skills as skills

Referential and sociolinguistic approaches to communication

Communication in practical contexts - pragmatics

Biological abilities and learned accomplishments

The interplay of perceptual, cognitive and linguistic processes Oracy and literacy

Communication problems of hearing-impaired children

Chapter 2 Early assessment and intervention

Sensitive periods

Instances of extreme deprivation

Early and late assessment of hearing impairment

Early versus late intervention

Conclusion

Chapter 3 The speech reception of hearing-impaired children

Hearing aids, cochlear implants and vibrotactile aids

Auditory perception of speech by hearing-impaired children Clinical and practical applications

Perception of connected speech

Conclusion: need for clarification of objectives

Enhancement of the intelligibility of perceived speech

Speechreading

Chapter 4 The produced speech of hearing-impaired children

Deaf speech

Speech training

Speech training aids

Intelligibility of the produced speech of hearing-impaired children

Conclusion

Chapter 5 Hearing impairment and manual communication

Manual communication Natural language of the deaf

Manual systems other than sign language Sign language

Total communication

Chapter 6 Hearing impairment and literacy skills

Reading Writing

Concluding remarks: reading and writing

Chapter 7 Hearing impairment and cognition

Cognitive skills Cognition and hearing impairment Some cognitive aspects of sign

General conclusion on hearing impaiment and cognition

Metaprocesses

Central auditory dysfunction

Conclusion

Chapter 8 Individual and social aspects

Psychopathology

Psychological aspects

Social aspects

Pragmatics

Chapter 9 Management of the hearing-impaired child

Some milestones

Practical issues affecting management

Options for parents with deaf children

Chapter 10 Concluding comments

Glossary

References

Index