Deafness cognition and learning

Course objectives

A) Knowledge and understanding: the student will acquire basic knowledge on multiple clinical and psychological aspects of deafness, on the history of the signing community and on the history of research in the field of sign languages. B) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: the student will be able to understand and apply in his profession the knowledge acquired related to the socio-cognitive aspects of the deaf person, respecting his specificities and individual characteristics. C) Autonomy of judgment: thanks to the knowledge acquired, the student will be able to make decisions supported by studies and research into the behavior to be held with the deaf person, according to the different situations that could arise; D) Communication skills: the student will be able to explain and communicate the psychological aspects related to the profession of professional interpreter and will be able to discuss the main implications from the ethical point of view, adequately related to the deaf community; E) Learning skills: the student will have the necessary tools to further explore the psychological and cognitive aspects of deafness.

Channel 1
Pasquale Rinaldi Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The program includes: - general knowledge about deafness (etiology, types, degrees of deafness, early diagnosis, hearing aids); - description of the deaf community as it currently stands; - knowledge about bimodal bilingualism; - in-depth analysis of some psychological aspects of the family following the diagnosis of deafness in their child and the choices they face; - the processes of acquiring spoken and sign language in deaf children; - methods and treatments for oral and written language education; - outcome assessment (assessment of cognitive development and linguistic development in both Italian and Italian Sign Language); - different types of schools for deaf students in Italy; - the professionals who work with deaf students at school (curricular teachers, support teachers, communication assistants, OEPAC).
Prerequisites
No specific cultural or curricular prerequisites are required to attend this course. Knowledge will be co-constructed between the instructor and learners. The fluidity of this process will be facilitated by flexibility, open-mindedness, and the absence of prejudice.
Books
Rinaldi P., Tomasuolo E., Resca A. (a cura di) (2018). La sordità infantile: nuove prospettive di intervento. Erikson: Trento. Rinaldi P., Di Mascio T., Knoors H., Marschark M. (2015). Insegnare agli studenti sordi. Aspetti cognitivi, linguistici, socioemotivi e scolastici. Il Mulino: Bologna.
Frequency
No mandatory but strongly recommended to attend.
Exam mode
Oral exam with the possibility of having an Italian/LIS interpreter present.
Lesson mode
Classes will be held in person in the classroom at the Faculty of Lettere e Filosofia of Sapienza University of Rome, twice a week during the first semester of the academic year 2025-2026, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The first half of the course will be taught by Dr. Elena Tomasuolo and the second half by Dr. Pasquale Rinaldi.
Elena Tomasuolo Lecturers' profile
  • Lesson code10607023
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseCommunication and Interpretation in Italian Sign Language (LIS and LISt)
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year1st year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDM-PSI/04
  • CFU6