Description and evaluation of structured speaking and listening activities for hearing-impaired adults

This study was designed to evaluate improvement in word comprehension, pronunciation, and auditory discrimination as a result of structured group experience in speaking and listening. Subjects included 75 college students with hearing impairment and auditory discrimination for speech. Subjects were divided into three groups matched on the basis of hearing characteristics. Groups A and B received 20 hours of instruction over a 10-wk interval. Group A was evaluated relative to word comprehension, word usage in writing, and pronunciation. Group B was evaluated relative to auditory discrimination before and after training. Group C (control) did not receive training but auditory discrimination was evaluated over the 10-wk interval. Significant improvements in word comprehension, word usage in writing, pronunciation, and in auditory discrimination were achieved as a result of training. No significant change in auditory discrimination was observed in the control group.