Choices in Deafness [Paperback]

Schwarz (Author), Sue Schwartz (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1996

This book helps parents who have a child with a hearing impairment to make a complex decision. They must choose a communication method for their child, after weighing up the pros and cons of the various educational options and evaluating which one will best meet their child's needs at home, in school, and in the community. This expanded and updated edition explains the medical causes of hearing loss, the diagnostic process, audiological assessment, and the cochlear implant. Then experts present in detail, but without bias, the following communication options: Auditory -- Verbal Approach; Bilingual -- Bicultural Approach; Cued Speech; Oral Approach; Total Communication. Personal stories from parents and children speaking about their choices help to round out this useful guide.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Overwhelmingly, hearing parents raise deaf children. Most of the time they have no prior exposure to people with hearing loss and must face some very difficult options, for deaf education has been divided by controversy and bias for decades. This work provides comprehensive information on various methodologies with straightforward delivery, offering the perspective of parents and of children who have grown up since the publication of the first edition. While only three methodologies were discussed in the first edition?total communication, oralism, and cued speech?the auditory/ verbal and bilingual-bicultural approaches have been added here. This edition also covers in depth the medical causes of hearing loss, the diagnostic process, meeting with the audiologist, and the pros and cons of the newest technology, the cochlear implant. This work guides parents through the choices they must make for their child, covering conditions and treatment from both the parents' and the child's point of view. National organizations serving the deaf or hard of hearing are listed, along with contact information. Recommended for public libraries.?Emily H. Ferren, Ruth Enlow Lib. of Garrett Cty., Oakland, Md.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Choices in Deafness is an important addition to any speech and hearing library or recommended reading list...." -- The Volta Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Woodbine House; 2 edition (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0933149859
• ISBN-13: 978-0933149854
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,113,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > Law > Specialties > Disability

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended!, January 21, 1998

By 

[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This review is from: Choices in Deafness (Paperback)

This book is invaluable for any parent choosing a communication option for their child. The author takes an unbiased look at the following communication options: Auditory-Verbal, Bilingual-Bicultural, Cued Speech, Oral, and Total Communication. Each option contains an outline of the option, and stories of three or four children who are using this option. The stories are written by the children's parents which helps give us an insight into how they chose the option that was right for their child. For those children who were covered in the first edition of this book, this second edition includes a "Where I Am Today" written by the now grown children.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Choices In Deafness, April 11, 2001

By 

T. Yanuck (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Choices in Deafness (Paperback)

This is a great book!!

After our child was diagnosed with deafness, we were overwelmed with so much information, so many decisions to make. This book offers a nonbiased, comprehensive outline of the educational options available for deaf children. I use it as a reference manual and read it three or four times after my son's diagnosis. We're four years down the road now and I'm going to read it again. There is a wealth of information here. It is the first book I recommend parents read after finding out their child is deaf.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Choices in Deafness, July 3, 2003

By 

Bill Loyd (Browns Valley, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Choices in Deafness (Paperback)

As a mom with a one year old newly diagnosed as severely deaf, I found this book very helpful. After going online and learning of all the controversy surrounding deaf issues,it was refreshing to find a book that gave equal time to differing views. This book led me to making the choice that is right for our child and our family. I loved that it gave professional veiwpoints for each language-learning option, as well as the story of a family that chose each of the various options.