Friendship among deaf adolescents attending mainstream secondary schools, in oral communication modes

Abstract

This paper analyses the friendships established by deaf adolescents who attend mainstream secondary schools in oral communication mode. The study focuses on a sample of twenty deaf and twenty hearing teenagers, of both sexes, attending schools in Barcelona. It consists of personal interviews to learn about the experiences and values associated with such friendships. The outcomes demonstrate deaf students maintain friendships which are very similar to those of their hearing classmates, although toward the end of adolescence, among some of the deaf participants, friendships become more fragile. Finally, the paper offers a reflection on the educational implications that could be useful for professionals who work with these students.