Misconception: CUED SPEECH IS A CRUTCH.

The heart of this issue is not that Cued Speech is a crutch, but a belief that Cued Speech somehow prevents deaf children from developing other vital skills and from becoming independent.

Cued Speech does allow for English language development to occur through vision rather than hearing. This is advantageous to anyone who does not hear.

For those with residual hearing or who use cochlear implants, Cued Speech lays the groundwork for language-learning and provides a visual analog to the speech signal. For those learning to use a cochlear implant, cues are not a crutch, but a way to connect this new input to the language already in their minds.

The analogy that Cued Speech is a crutch is somewhat inaccurate. Cued Speech does "support" children so that they do not need to guess what someone is saying. However, unlike a crutch, Cued Speech use strengthens a childs native use of the English language. Cued Speech continues to support children even when they may only experience an ambiguous means of communicating - like speechreading.

Research suggests that Cued Speech enhances a child's ability to speechread, use residual hearing, and benefit from cochlear implants. [Link to Center for the Study of Learning]

REALITY: Cued Speech enables deaf children to acquire language, literacy, and develop speechreading skills.