Facts and opinions relating to the deaf from America.

Date:: 1888

Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Facts and opinions relating to the deaf from America. Source: Wellcome Collection.

43/212 (page 31)

iu our school of one hundred. Our work with these leads us to believe that, generally, development is in educating the sense already possessed. In three instances the hearing power itself has increased. ' We do not now use the audiphone, because the ear-trumpet is preferred when any artificial aid is used for our present needs. By this means the pupil is to correct his speech by hearing his own voice as well as that of the speaker. This will not always answer, however, as there are on record cases where the audiphone has been beneficial when the trumpet would not meet the demand. In this connection we mention one boy who was started by the audiphone when his prospects of using his ears were decidedly slight. He continued its use for a few months, when it was thought no longer necessary to use any instrument for his further assistance. His heai-ing grew stronger, and with it his speech rapidly improved. In three years he became able to converse with his family by the use of his hearing, and to respond to their calls when not in the same room. His voice became natural and pleasant. This last is a fact that scarcely needs mention, as the speech of all aural subjects is more perfect and more easily made so than those of articulation, while the voices are infinitely better modulated. ' There have been several interesting cases in the Institution during the time you mention. ' Ernest Clark, of Columbus, Neb., had considerable hearing, being able to recognise sounds made by a voice from a distance of sixteen feet. He had been taught the elements of sound at home by what his mother described as a natural method, but which we would designate aural. Pursuing our usual line, the boy soon took school-room conversation. Being greatly interested in machinery, he was taught the names and move- ments of machines in the buildings. These names he pro- nounced easily, and with an articulation as perfect as could be desired; nor did he have any help in that direction. His hear- ing did not increase, but training helped him to use what he had. He is now in the public schools.