Oralism

An educational philosophy and approach for deaf and hard of hearing individuals that emphasizes spoken language and lip-reading over the use of sign language. Historically, oralism dominated deaf education following the 1880 Milan Conference, which effectively banned sign language in schools across many countries. Critics argue that oralism suppresses Deaf culture and natural sign language acquisition, while proponents believe it facilitates integration into hearing society. The debate between oralism and manualism (sign language-based education) remains a significant cultural and political issue within Deaf communities.