Effectiveness of two instructional methods on reasoning ability of children with hearing impairment in Nigeria

Language has a noteworthy role in the cognitive development and social ability of an individual. However, a delay in language could a ff ect an individual ability to think critically. Th is could be breached through impactful method of instruction from elementary school. Th us, this study examined the di ff erential e ff ectiveness of Montessori didactic and Direct Instructional methods on reasoning ability of children with hearing impairment in Lagos State. Th e sample size was 29 pupils comprising 15 male and 14 female pupils with hearing impairment. Th e Reasoning Ability Test was used to gather relevant data while mean, standard deviation, mean di ff erence, Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Least Signi fi cant Di ff erence (LSD) were the statistical tool used to analyse the data. Th e study found that both Montessori Didactic Material and Direct Instruction method were e ffi cacious in teaching pupils with hearing impairment. However, the former was more e ff ective. Th e teaching methods do not have signi fi cant gender e ff ect on pupils with hearing impairment. It was recommended that Montessori didactic method should be employed in teaching elementary school pupils because it encourages active participation in learning process in form of self- direction and independence not minding gender, intellectual and economic disparities.