Language and deafness: considerations about phonoaudiological practices

Abstract

This article is about an exploratory study carried out to provide data for phonoaudiologists working with deaf children. The study was made by interviewing professionals working with deaf children, to collect their views and experiences. Believing that clinical treatment must be supported by the theoretical vision, we were concerned only on establishing the relation between practice and the corresponding theoretical vision. We could identify at least two distinct visions – one which focuses the work with deaf people and the problems which deafness bring to the reception and the emission of messages; and another, which emphasizes the relation between subject and language regardless the pathology – in clinical judgment supporting phonoaudiological practices with deaf children.