Modifications of speech language levels by preservice educators based on language features.
Increased efforts to mainstream handicapped learners have been accompanied by a growing concern for the ability of mainstream educators to accommodate the special needs of these students. A particular concern involves the ability of mainstream educators to adjust their levels of spoken language when conversing with hearing-impaired learners. The present study compared the language levels produced by preservice educators with either high or low levels of previous experience with hearing-impaired individuals. Results indicated that (1) neither group adjusted their spoken language to levels understood by two hearing-impaired women and (2) members of the high experience group produced higher language levels than members of the low experience group. Discussion of these results focuses on implications for interactions with hearing-impaired learners.
Schloss
P J
PJ
University of Missouri, Columbia.
Smith
M A
MA
Bernstein
M
M
D000328:Adult; D003638:Deafness / Q000628:therapy*; D004519:Education, Special; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D014705:Verbal Behavior