SASL Newsletter - Spring 2018 Issue Issue 9 - Spring 2018 | Page 9

By Rachel Squyres
As a recently graduated Speech Language Pathologist, my interest in the deaf and hard of
hearing community relates greatly to the role Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) play in treating
this population. While studying Deaf culture over the past few months, I have learned a great deal
about the beliefs and customs that make up the Deaf community. However, until I researched the topic
of the role SLPs play within this community, I was still unclear of how the two worlds interconnected.
Much of the research, which relates to both Speech Language Pathology and American Sign
Language (ASL), is targeted at speech production. That is to say, many SLPs are of the opinion that
using a signed language to communicate with children who are slow to talk will actually encourage
those children to use spoken language as well. This view is quite different from the perspective of the
deaf community who would prefer to use ASL as a sole source of communication. While most SLPs
focus more on speech production, there are a minority of SLPs who work with deaf people to treat
signed language disorders.
Dr. Harriet Kaplan of Gallaudet University wrote an article about Deaf culture pertaining to
speech and hearing professionals. In her article, she explains in detail some of the values within Deaf
culture, including the desire for deaf and hard of hearing people to participate in day-to-day
communications using ASL. Dr. Kaplan states, “Even though speech is not compatible with ASL,
culturally Deaf people may be interested in spoken English because they realize they must interact with
hearing people” (p. 71). Speech Language Pathologists may play a role in aiding deaf persons who
have a desire to use spoken language outside of the deaf community. In order for SLPs to serve the
deaf community, it is important that they have a thorough knowledge of Deaf culture and are respectful
of the values of the people they serve (Kaplan, 1996).
The second article I chose, Speech-Language Pathologists in Schools for the Deaf: A Survey of
Scope of Practice, Service Delivery, Caseload, and Program Features pertains to SLPs working in
schools for the deaf. The article points out the necessity for SLPs to be fluent in signed language, as
do the other articles cited in this paper. The focus of SLPs in deaf schools tends to be on written
languages, signed language, and functional communication. The article also points out that while some
SLPs do work in deaf schools, the majority of deaf and hard of hearing children attend public schools,
therefore the need for SLPs in public schools to know ASL is also on the rise (Seal, Rossi, &
Henderson, 1998).
In the field of Speech Language Pathology, most language diagnoses and treatments focus on
spoken language. There is, however, a fairly new concept of language impairment within signed
language. Cripps, Cooper, Supalla, and Evitts (2015) propose that deaf people face the same medical
possibilities as hearing people do and, therefore, can face language production impairments. While
hearing people typically exhibit language impairments in spoken language, deaf people may exhibit
signed language impairments. People who suffer from strokes often times lose optimal lang uage
functioning. This is true not only for hearing persons, but deaf persons as well. In order for SLPs to
treat patients in this area, they must have an extensive knowledge of ASL, which would include far
more training than a simple college level sign course. Cripps et al. (2015) note that nearly 1,000 deaf
stroke survivors in the United States suffer from aphasia due to strokes. To this date, there is no
evidence
(Continue on the next page)
The Power of ASL
9
Spring 2018 – Issue 9