BENEFITS OF SIGN LANGUAGE TO AUDITORY AND ORALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS IN SELECTED SCHOOLS IN BENIN CITY

ABSTRACT

This study examines the benefits of Sign Language to Auditory and Orally Impaired students in selected Schools in Benin City. The survey method was adopted as the research method while the instrument for data collection was the questionnaire. One hundred questionnaires were distributed. The findings of this study revealed that sign language is the only effective medium of communication for the auditory and orally impaired and it is loaded with myriad benefits. The advantageous aspects of sign language include; the removal of Academic barriers and hurdles for the deaf and dumb, simplification and clarification of complex situations and that it also allows for easy understanding and learning. All these reasons amongst others signal the importance of sign language and why students with hearing and speech impairments cannot cope without it. Based on the findings of the study, it is concluded that sign language has positively imparted deaf and dumb students as they have enjoyed lots of goodies from its use. The positive effects derived from these benefits range from the increase in intellectual capacity and self-development, elimination of emotional trauma, heightened self-confidence etc. Away from that, sign language has also helped to enhance communication to a very large extent as the sharing of meaning is achievable through its use. The researcher recommends amongst others that the use of sign language should be encouraged and promoted in schools and colleges whether they harbor deaf and dumb students or not as it is not only beneficial to these special individuals but could also boost the cognitive reasoning and intellectual prowess of every other individual