Effective Mode of Communication to the Hearing Impaired in Ghana: The Case of Bechem School for the Deaf, Bechem

The study aimed at finding out what mode of communication prevail in Ghana, which one is very effective to benefit all categories of student who are hearing impaired in the various schools and the community, with particular reference to Bechem School for the Deaf in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. The study made use of questionnaires, interviews and observations. The sample was sixty (60), including thirty-two (32) students, ten (10) teachers, ten (10) parents, two (2) officers from Special Education Division of Ghana Education Service (GES) and four (4) executive members of Ghana National Association of the Deaf as well as two Headmasters. The result of the study was analysed according to a demographic distribution of respondents’ status, gender and age. Simple statistical descriptions of analysis of opinions of the people were done using simple percentage, backed by Venn diagram and Bar graphs. The findings were able to give the researcher information that Sign Language (SL) was the prescribed mode of communication for the Hearing Impaired no matter their level of hearing since it was a policy from the Special Education Directorate. Recommendations made include the use of Total Communication as an effective teaching and learning mode that would benefit all categories of Hearing Impaired according to their linguistic needs in the schools and the community at large. There should also be speech therapists, speech rooms and auditory training units with individuals wearing hearing aids in the schools. Effective Sign Language teachers, interpreters and books for Sign Language must also be in the various schools for those interested in Sign Language.