Combined Method, Philosophy and Models of

Quite literally, the combined method is the pedagogical philosophy that neither end of the spectrum of deaf education—oralism nor manualism—is effective on its own. Advocates of this method recognized the different strengths and weaknesses of both schools of thought and therefore promoted the instruction of sign and gesture in addition to speech and lipreading. It arose as a response to the peak of the debate within deaf education in the West during the 19th and 20th centuries. The most adamant supporter of the combined method was Edward Miner Gallaudet who asserted that neither movement on its own was sufficient for a comprehensive education for deaf children.

Western social discourse in the latter half of the 19th century created the space for oralism to become the dominant ...