ABSTRACT
This research is on the Effect of Sign Language on the Academic Performance of Secondary School Student with Hearing Impairment in Oredo Local Governement Area, the aim of the study is to acertain How the integration of sign language in secondary school contribute to the achievement of students with hearing impairment, The effect of sign language usage on the academic compression and retention of Secondary School student with hearing impairment, The correlation between proficiency in sign language and academic achievement among secondary school student with hearing impairments. How do educators perceive the effectiveness of incorporating sign language into the instructional strategies for student with hearing impairment.
Descriptive Survey Design was used for the study, and the population of the study comprised of 40 students selected from one Secondary School that have hearing impaired students. The instrument for the study is the questionnaire which is titled " The effect of sign language on the academic performance of secondary school students with hearing impairment in Oredo L.G.A, Edo State". The instrument was designed by literature on hearing impairment in mainstream classroom. The questionnaire consist of two sections, A and B. Section A is focused on the demographic data of the Study's participants while section B contain questions designed to elicit responses in order to answer the research question for the study. The questionnaire is a close ended and a modified 4-point Likert scale with the following options and codes for each option: Strongly agree(SA) is coded 4, Agree(A) is coded 3, disagree(D) is coded 2 and strongly disagree(SD) is coded 1. The validation of the questionnaire was undertaken by the researchers supervisor to ascertain suitability and appropriateness for the research and two experts in the Department of Educational Evaluation and Counselling Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin City. The reliability of the research instrument was determined through a pilot study where 10 copies of the questionnaire was distributed to the population of interest who will not be included in the sample of the Study.
Findings emerged that Sign Language plays a crucial role in facilitating communication and learning among students with hearing impairment, potentially enhancing their overall educational experience and outcomes. It was discovered that incorporating Sign Language into Secondary Education can enhance the learning experience and academic outcomes of students with hearing impairment, potentially bridging communication gaps and promoting a more inclusive educational environment.
