Growing Up Deaf in a Developing Country

Abstract

Reviews the book, The incredible journey of Victor Vodounou by V. Vodounou (2008). This book provides interesting insights about growing up with a hearing loss in a developing country. The 15 chapters in this book describe important milestones in Dr. Vodounou’s life beginning with his childhood in Benin, West Africa, and losing his hearing just as he was about to complete elementary school. Vodounou also describes his journey from his initial work as a missionary and teacher of the deaf to attending colleges in North America, as well as his career and family developments thereafter. The challenge remains for the governments in developing countries to ensure that health, education, and related services are provided in the rural areas so that children with hearing loss can be identified early and provided the services that will enable them to become productive and contributing members of the society. Dr. Vodounou deserves commendation for completing this book that he said he began work on in 1977. Those interested in learning about what it is like growing up with a hearing loss in a developing country will find this book beneficial. In addition, this book provides interesting insights about the condition of education and related services for the deaf in developing countries. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)