Concentration Fatigue in Deaf

I read a very interesting article recently and thought it would be a good topic to bring up here- Concentration Fatigue in Deaf. You can read the original article here:

http://limpingchicken.com/2013/06/28/ian-noon-concentration-fatigue/

The fact of the matter is that concentration fatigue is very real for Deaf whether signing or lip-reading.

Personally I think lip-reading is even worse since the brain has to fill in the gaps where with ASL you don't necessarily. Only 30-40% of the English language is visible on the lips (less than 1/2 !) So there is obviously a LOT of guess work and filling in the spaces with lip-reading. Not only does it cause tiredness, but also headaches, eye fatigue, and other physical pain. Lip-reading is not a very friendly mode of communication, even if you get "used" to doing it- it becomes like squinting when you don't have glasses. Even for people who have hearing aids or cochlear implants, there is still a measure of language that has to be matched with lip-reading. Obviously the more "loss" you have the more work at lip-reading you will have to do.

All of this work leads to- you guessed it- Concentration Fatigue. With adults- we just brush it off and count it as another long day. But with kids... different story.

We need to be mindful with our Deaf/ Hard of Hearing Children about concentration fatigue. In school (public or homeschool), in every day life, and especially after playdates, conferences, and events. There is so much visual going on and they have to take it all in through the eyes.

We need to be sensitive to our kids needs even more during these type of days. Maybe that "bad attitude" is fatigue. Maybe that "I'm tired" is true.

I'm not saying they can get away with murder (or even sassy attitudes) but we need to be mindful.

Anyway- my random thought of the day :)  Join us tomorrow for another guest on Speechless Sundays- Mrs. Tamara! She is signing a kids story- Daniel in the Lions' Den.  See you tomorrow!