Early Intervention/Late Results: The Need to “Depathologize” the Service Model

Abstract

Communication barriers between deaf individuals and their hearing counterparts are being reduced as services designed for facilitating communication proliferate. However, a cultural divide between the deaf and hearing communities still exists, even in light of communication changes. Reasons for the unique and necessary contributions of the deaf community in early intervention are presented and discussed. Particular focus is given to the development of a deaf or hard-of-hearing child's identity of self. Development of identity is presented in five stages. Each stage is discussed and highlighted in case examples.

Key Words:

Deaf cultural identity - early-intervention