For Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

Education of students who are hard of hearing or deaf (see Deafness) may involve the use of powerful amplification devices, such as hearing aids, or it may use captions (printed words that appear on a television screen or computer monitor). Many deaf or hard of hearing students learn sign language, an organized system of gestures for communication. Others learn to speechread (lipread), a method of interpreting speech by “reading” the patterns of a person’s mouth as he or she speaks. Some deaf students receive cochlear implants, which are receivers surgically implanted behind the ear and connected to electrodes placed in the cochlea of the inner ear, enabling individuals to hear sounds to a varying degree. See also Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students.

For Gifted Children

Gifted children are often moved through the regular school curriculum at a faster pace than their peers. Some children with exceptionally high ability in a particular subject area may be allowed to reduce the time they spend in their other subjects to permit more time to focus on challenging content in their specialty. A high school student who is particularly gifted in math, for example, may attend advanced math classes at a local college rather than music classes at the high school. Some gifted students may also skip grades or they may enter kindergarten, high school, or college at an early age. See also Education of Gifted Students.

Trends

The prospects for students with disabilities have never been brighter. Educators and medical experts know much more than ever before about the prevention of many disabilities, particularly those caused by environmental or health hazards. The knowledge available to provide effective special education services also continues to grow. Educators have also improved special education services for gifted students. Children with exceptionally high academic abilities may now participate in increasing numbers of special education programs designed specifically to meet their needs.