AVAILABLE FROM PUB TYPE

This guide is designed to assist regular classroom teachers in helping the hearing impaired child to master the English language. It is noted that the hearing impaired population is not homogenous. Different factors involved in the decision to place a hearing impaired child in a regular classroom are considered. The types of language problems hearing impaired children experience are enumerated, including problems with the function and structure of language. The need for a comprehensive assessment and the development of an individualized education program for hearing impaired children are highlighted. The assessment should include psychological, medical, audiological, and speech and language evaluations conducted by qualified professionals. Language programming at the elementary and secondary school levels is discussed with emphasis on the establishment of appropriate goals. It is concluded that whatever the reason for placing a hearing impaired student in a regular classroom, the task of helping that child move through the difficult process of mastering the English language is a great responsibility. (RW) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. re \ LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION