Language Deficiency in Moderately Deaf Adolescents: An Environment based Perspective

Abstract

This research aims to determine the factors that help some of the moderately deaf adolescents and suppress the others even if they are equally capable of developing their language and use it effectively. Besides, the main research question of this study is whether the moderately deaf adolescents are able to be bilingual. To achieve that aim this research employs a quantitative approach in collecting data, including checklist tests, interviews, and observations. As to the sample of the study, it was selected from the center of deafness and muteness in Relizane and the data analysis was based on Dell Hymes’ communicative competence and Vygorstkian sociocultural models. Further, the findings of this research illustrate language deficiency in moderately deaf adolescents and the reasons behind these differences. Therefore, this research identifies the social factors that contribute to language development in some and not in other moderately deaf adolescents.