Click Here to advertise on The Hearing Center Online Website. Click Here to go to Audiotech's Corporate Website. Courtesy of the Hearing Foundation of Canada At the Metropolitan School for the Deaf, a young deaf boy flourishes in a special environment. Nine-year old Tristan Barnett joins in enthusiastically as O Canada plays before morning announcements at his school. His hands moving subtly at his sides, Tristan s eyes are glued to the television monitor in front of him.
Classes are small - Tristan s class of seven is typical.
Students and teachers communicate almost entirely in sign language and many teachers are themselves deaf or hard of hearing. All of them have a specialist certificate in educating deaf and hard of hearing students. Tristan is clearly at ease with his surroundings. Later, he playfully teases a classmate who hadn t finished his homework. He s good at math.