Back to index The oral method of communication emphasizes the
development and production of speech through speechreading and
the use of any hearing present. The premise behind the oral
method is to allow a child with hearing loss to communicate with
hearing individuals. Click HERE for a list of therapists,
clinics, and schools in your area providing auditory/oral
programs. Cued speech is a method used to facilitate
speechreading abilities. It requires the speaker to use
simultaneous hand gestures around the face while speaking. The
gestures, based on phonetic sounds, are composed of eight
handshapes and four movements to help the listener visually
distinguish between similar looking sound productions. Click
HERE for more information regarding cued speech. Manual Click
HERE for more information regarding manual communication. Total
Communication Click HERE for more information on total
communication. Back to index These approaches utilize the
child's ability to communicate through visual stimuli such as
finger