My research study investigates the modalities in which Deaf students learn, and how those modalities have been hindered or altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data for the study was collected through a Qualtrics survey that was sent to various Deaf educators in both oralist (lipreading and speaking) and ASL-English based programs. While I expected that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all students on a global scale, I had a vested interest in the impact on Deaf education due to the radically different ways in which Deaf students learn. Specifically, my hypothesis was that the COVID-19 pandemic will affect Deaf students in oralist programs significantly more than Deaf students in ASL-English programs due to the emphasis on lipreading and the presence of facial coverings. The results of the study are not statistically significant enough to warrant a definitive conclusion in regards to my hypothesis; however, we can conclude that Deaf students in both oralist and ASL-English programs were negatively impacted by the pandemic. We intend to increase our data collection pool in order to obtain more results moving forward. This research experience has been relevant to my future intended career as a Speech Pathologist in the sense that I have a better understanding of how Deaf students acquire language and develop their communication skills. This research study has also opened my eyes to the unique challenges that Deaf students face, and I feel better equipped to help these students overcome their challenges in the future. Because several of the survey participants were SLP’s, I was able to hear their perspectives on Deaf education which will also prove to be useful as I enter the same field.
Author: Brynn Hylton
Advisor: Aaron Shield, Speech Pathology and Audiology
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