The Use of Technology for Children with Hearing Impairment - Thesis Example

The necessity of using assistive technology in learning is informed by the argument that most disabilities cannot be cured. Additionally, they can never be outgrown (Schwab Foundation for Learning, 2000). The foregoing realities underscore the importance of using tools that can assist students living with different disabilities to improve their performance and success in certain areas of learning. Notably, assistive technologies create independence in learners hence setting up the stage for them to become independent (and even reliable) members of society.

With independence, students gain enhanced self-esteem and even the ability to earn their own living and accomplish milestones that otherwise would have been unattainable (Schwab Foundation for Learning, 2000). Use of assistive technologies in Saudi ArabiaAs a very conservative society, Saudi Arabia has yet to embrace some of what is referred to as basic human rights in western democracies. For example, Alfaraj and Kuyini (2014) observe that children with disabilities have not always been treated as equals to their able-bodied counterparts.

Consequently, the advancement of practices such as assistive technologies is relatively lower in schools when compared to developed countries. Alquraini (2011) also notes that most assistive technologies are developed either in Spanish or English languages, hence making it hard for schools in Saudi Arabia to adopt them. Notably, Arabic is the dominant language in most schools in the kingdom. Despite the slow adoption of assistive technologies, Goldin-Meadow (2009, cited by Alfaraj & Kuyini, 2014) notes that there is the adoption of basic assistive technologies such as projectors (for children with intellectual disabilities and low vision) and hearing aids (i.e. earphones and loudspeakers) for children with mild hearing loss.

To enhance the adoption of assistive technologies in Saudi Arabia, Alquraini (2011) recommends that the developers of such technologies should recognize the needs in schools in the kingdom. Consequently, they should design the assistive technologies in Arabic, so that most young students who can neither use English or Spanish can benefit from them.