Deaf college students' perceptions of communication in mainstream classes

Area of Science:

• Education
• Audiology
• Linguistics

Background:

• Mainstreaming deaf and hard-of-hearing students in postsecondary education presents unique communication challenges.
• Understanding student experiences is crucial for developing effective support services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess classroom communication ease for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in mainstreamed postsecondary settings.
• To explore student perceptions of communication, support, and attitudes within these environments.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative ratings of communication ease with hearing instructors, hearing peers, and deaf peers from 50 deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
• In-depth interviews with a subgroup focusing on communication, support services, and attitudes.

Main Results:

• Students comfortable using speech reported significantly better information reception and transmission.
• Considerable variation existed in students' communication experiences with hearing individuals and deaf peers.
• Access concerns and diverse needs presented challenges for support services like interpreters.

Conclusions:

• Individual differences in communication comfort and needs are significant among deaf and hard-of-hearing students in mainstreamed classrooms.
• Postsecondary institutions must address the varied communication and support requirements of deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
• Effective strategies are needed to ensure equitable access and participation for all students.