Are Deaf Students Visual Learners?

Overview

Journal Learn Individ Differ

Publisher JAI Press

Date 2013 Jun 11

PMID 23750095

Citations 11

Authors

Marc Marschark

Carolyn Morrison

Jennifer Lukomski

Georgianna Borgna

Carol Convertino

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

It is frequently assumed that by virtue of their hearing losses, deaf students are visual learners. Deaf individuals have some visual-spatial advantages relative to hearing individuals, but most have been are linked to use of sign language rather than auditory deprivation. How such cognitive differences might affect academic performance has been investigated only rarely. This study examined relations among deaf college students' language and visual-spatial abilities, mathematics problem solving, and hearing thresholds. Results extended some previous findings and clarified others. Contrary to what might be expected, hearing students exhibited visual-spatial skills equal to or better than deaf students. Scores on a Spatial Relations task were associated with better mathematics problem solving. Relations among the several variables, however, suggested that deaf students are no more likely to be visual learners than hearing students and that their visual-spatial skill may be related more to their hearing than to sign language skills.

Citing Articles

Care Partner Experiences in Supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing Adults With Diabetes.

Canela S, Allen N, Henderson M, Lee S, Miller N, Howes Z Diabetes Spectr. 2024; 37(4):335-341.

PMID: 39649697 PMC: 11623034. DOI: 10.2337/ds22-0088.

Prevalence of Ocular Morbidity and Associated Factors Among Hearing Impaired Children at Embangweni School of the Deaf in Mzimba District, Malawi.

Liyo T, Ogbonna G, Mzumara T, Ezinne N Clin Optom (Auckl). 2024; 16:115-122.

PMID: 38716043 PMC: 11075696. DOI: 10.2147/OPTO.S444216.

Effect of visual presentation format and recall direction on letter span and error patterns in Deaf signing and hearing adults.

McFayden T, Faust M, McIntosh A, Multhaup K Atten Percept Psychophys. 2023; 85(5):1631-1648.

PMID: 36754920 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-023-02664-x.

Small number enumeration processes of deaf or hard-of-hearing students: A study using eye tracking and artificial intelligence.

Schindler M, Doderer J, Simon A, Schaffernicht E, Lilienthal A, Schafer K Front Psychol. 2022; 13:909775.

PMID: 36072043 PMC: 9441847. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.909775.

Working memory in intact modalities among individuals with sensory deprivation.

Heled E, Ohayon M, Oshri O Heliyon. 2022; 8(6):e09558.

PMID: 35706957 PMC: 9189883. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09558.

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