Resource for speech therapy directed to the written language of the deaf person: the software “Surdo aprendendo em silêncio”

Abstract

Introduction: The appropriation process and the control of written language by deaf people is a cause of concern for deafness researchers. These facts, in general, occur because of the lack of access to written language and inappropriate conditions of written acquisition by deaf people in our country. This study aims to describe and analyze the contribution of a technological speech language clinical resource, the software “Surdo Aprendendo em Silêncio”, carried through the acquisition of deaf people’s reading and writing. Method: study case of two deaf adolescents, 14 and 15 years old, with deep bilateral hearing loss, which study at specials schools. They realized 15 reading and writing activities. This resource was formulated based in an interaction conception, and is structured in activities that emphasize different kinds of written productions. After the software use, these subjects start to realize the following operations: to reflect and act in a systematic way about formal and semantic aspects of written language; to establish associations, interpretations and to attribute sense to written productions, building signification through the use of the software and the mediation of a researcher. Final considerations: The affectivity of this resource in a speech language therapy clinic was perceived, and this software contributed to deaf people autonomy in the elaboration and interpretation of written language productions.