Most profoundly deaf children have the potential to learn to speak. The earlier you start oral education, the better the results will be. Intervention can begin at birth, and should begin as soon as the hearing loss is identified. Listening is basic to spoken language. A child who learns to listen at a young age will also be better able to speak.
Spoken language supports literacy.
Historically, many deaf children have had low literacy levels. Oral deaf children are more likely to read at their grade level, which also supports other academic growth. That is the goal of oral deaf education. Children who are educated with the oral approach develop listening skills with the use of current auditory technology, including digital hearing aids and cochlear implants, and specific teaching strategies. Additionally, the children use speechreading to help them understand language.