School Subjects

Deaf students can study virtually all school subjects – including modern European languages – if directed coaching is given with weaker subjects.

Irish – and English Language

In Ireland, exemption from Irish language classes is routine, especially if the student’s English is still developing when their class starts to learn Irish.

Clever time-tabling of Irish classes can free a student to see a resource teacher or speech therapist at these times, or to review their own classwork.

Extra tuition may be needed with English and maths, with abstract concepts potentially being difficult for deaf students to grasp in the classroom environment.

Students at post-primary (high school) level should choose subjects they enjoy, and are good at. This will make school work easier and more satisfying.

Languages and Music

Deaf students with good English language skills can learn modern European languages the same way they did English – visually, and through reading.

Foreign languages can be learned even if the oral or aural part of an exam is waived. Some great tips are on this site.

The same applies to music. When a student wants to learn to play an instrument as a subject, or hobby, that’s great.

Sports and Hearing

Sport is an integrator for all deaf students. Bath rugby player Matt Gilbert wears hearing-aids under his cap.

Post-aural (behind-ear) hearing-aids can be worn for hockey or soccer, and for rugby or Gaelic, with headgear.

Students with cochlear implants enjoy most sports, except boxing, rugby & some martial arts.

A helmet is advised for contact sports. MycroSport in Cork (Ireland) custom-makes helmets for hearing-device wearers.