Research

ICODA has formed a relationship with Advanced Neurodiagnostics and Clinical Neuroscience in an attempt to better understand the impact of hearing loss on the brain and to identify those interventions which are most effective in enhancing learning.  Of particular interest is the effect of participation in musical activities on brain development in deaf and hard of hearing children.  This interest was established as the result of a survey given to adults between the ages of 30 and 50 who had participated for at least 3 years in ICODA’s musical theater program.  Four questions were asked and the results were compared to the adult deaf population. The following is a brief summary of the results of 45 participants.

Question 1 – What was your highest level of education?

         Four year degree:  ICODA participants 86%
                                         General Deaf Population 10%

         Advanced degree:  ICODA participants 43% (4 PhD’s)
                                      General Deaf Population 1%

Question 2 - Are you currently employed?

         ICODA Participants 91% Yes, 9% No
         General Deaf Population, 50% Yes, 50% No

Question 3 – What Profession did you select?

         The highest areas were Arts and Education
         Other fields included Law, Linguistics, and Administration

Question 4 – Do you feel ICODA’s theater program helped you and if so how?

         There were a variety of ideas expressed but answers common to all were statements such as “ICODA was our second home,” “we gained confidence there,” “there were high expectations,” skills in memory and vocabulary improved,” and “interpretation of the characters we played enhanced our understanding of ourselves.”

With these results we felt a necessity to study more formally through research why these children grew up to be outstandingly successful.

Also of interest is the impact of activities in all areas of the Arts for children with hearing loss complicated by additional complex learning problems.  There is growing evidence that the use of the Arts can not only be used for the enhancement of learning but is also effective as treatment modalities for children with hearing loss and social/emotional disorders.  It is our intent to contribute as much practical knowledge as possible that is based on scientific evidence of how to enhance the cognitive learning abilities of deaf and heard of hearing children.

Working with us in this endeavor is neuroscientist Lucasz Konopka, Ph.D. and Philip Epstein, M.D., Psychiatry.  Both men are interested in the brain and its function and bring many years of experience and expertise to answering the critical research questions in the field of deafness.