Journal of Communication Disorders, Deaf Studies & Hearing Aids
Open Access
ISSN: 2375-4427
+44-20-4587-4809
ISSN: 2375-4427
+44-20-4587-4809
Deepika Sharma and Rangasayee Raghunath Rao
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the benefits of combined use of captions and sign language interpretation in understanding television content.
Methods: 30 prelingually deaf adults (25-45 y) participated in the study. Stimulus consisted of three video-clips taken from Television (TV) program “Shaktimaan” with already incorporated sign language video. Captions were incorporated in two of the video clips. The experiment was conducted in three phases. In pre-experimental phase participants were required to answer informational questions. In the Experimental phase participants were shown three video-clips in three different viewing conditions i.e. with sign language (WSL), with captions only (WC) and with both sign language and captions combined (WSL:WC). They were required to answer 10 comprehension questions after each video. In post experimental phase they were required to answer feedback questions based on the videos shown.
Results: The results showed significant improvement in scores in condition with combined presence of captions and sign language (WSL:WC),than the other two conditions.
Conclusion: Was concluded that providing captions and sign language together would immensely help in making television accessible to larger number of deaf adults than providing any of it alone. It was further concluded that the combined use of these devices may also be helpful in improving televised content depending on the individual’s efficiency in use of Sign language or captions, though this needs to be researched further.