Abstract

LUSTRE, Natali da Silva; RIBEIRO, Karen Barros; FERREIRA, Carolina Lima  and  CARNIO, Maria Silvia. Influence of visual stimuli in the written production of deaf signers with complaints of writing impairment. Rev. soc. bras. fonoaudiol. [online]. 2012, vol.17, n.1, pp. 34-40. ISSN 1516-8034.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-80342012000100008.

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of two types of visual stimuli in the written production of deaf signers with complaints of reading and writing alterations. METHODS: Participants were 13 deaf students who were users of sign language and had complaints of reading and writing alterations (seven male and six female). Subjects' mean age was 13 years, and they presented severe or profound sensorineural hearing loss (average threshold lower than 71 dBHL in the frequencies of 500 Hz, 1 and 2 kHz). The educational level of participants ranged from 3^{rd to 8th} grades of public and private elementary schools. They were evaluated for their performance in Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS), and carried out written productions based on two visual stimuli: an action picture and a sequence of pictures. The written samples were analyzed according to criteria adapted from the Communicative Competence Theory (Generic, Encyclopedic and Linguistic). Data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Regarding the Generic Competence, the predominant type of discourse was Narration. Both Linguistic and Encyclopedic competences were impaired, regardless the stimuli used. CONCLUSION: Both types of visual stimuli used in the study did not provide differentiated written productions in deaf signers with complaints of writing alteration.

Keywords : Education; Evaluation; Deafness; Writing; Sign language.