How do deaf people communicate – which method is best?
There are many different methods of communication – natural aural approach; structured oral approach; lipreading/speechreading; Sign Bi-lingualism; British Sign Language; Fingerspelling; Sign Supported English; Signed English; Total Communication; Paget Gorman Signed Speech; Cued Speech; Signalong and Makaton. There is also much debate about the different methods of communication available to deaf people in the deaf community, and between professionals working with deaf people. Some deaf people prefer to use one method, others may use a combination of them. Communication is a vital life skill. For a deaf child, acquiring language skills and learning to communicate with the hearing world around them can often be an uphill struggle. So making the right choice about which method or approach to use with a deaf child is crucial. Like all parents, parents of deaf children will want their child to communicate well, so it is important to consider their needs carefully. NDCS believes in the pri
