cued speech

Cued speech is a visual communication system that uses hand gestures or cues to help deaf or hard-of-hearing people understand spoken language. The system was developed in the 1960s by Dr. R. Orin Cornett, a professor of linguistics at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C.

Cued speech uses eight hand shapes and four placements around the mouth to represent consonant sounds, while vowel sounds are represented by the position of the hand in relation to the speaker's body. By combining these cues, a speaker can be understood even if they are speaking too fast or with an unclear accent.

The use of cued speech has been shown to significantly improve reading and language skills in deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, as well as promote better communication between them and hearing individuals. It is also used in educational settings to teach spoken language to deaf or hard-of-hearing children.