There is considerable controversy on methods of teaching communication to deaf children. One group advocates teaching sign language as the first language and the language of the majority hearing culture, that is, reading and writing, as the second. Sign language plays a critical role in the lives of most deaf people. Sign languages differ from each other just as spoken languages do. Hearing aids Hearing aids must be custom fitted.
Ear moulds are plastic devices which connect the hearing aid to the ear canal.
Without a properly fitting ear mould, the hearing aid will squeal with an annoying feedback. Ear moulds are made from impressions of the outer ear, and no two ears are alike. Particularly in young children, ear moulds have a limited life because they must be replaced periodically as the ear grows and changes shape. Hearing aids usually do not work well in noisy environments, because the amplified sound is painful and the deaf person is unable to sort out the sounds. It is also not commonly understood that classrooms for deaf students should be acoustically treated to reduce echoes.