After graduating from special boarding schools, students with hearing deficiencies have only one choice to continue their studies – at the National Extramural School for the Deaf and People with Impaired Hearing. Only those whose hearing shows improvements and can afford a hearing aid can opt for other institutions. Senior specialist in special and inclusive education of the general division for education, youth and sport Maria Poborozniuc told Info-Prim Neo that there were two institutions for children with deficiencies of hearing in Chisinau: the no.167 kindergarten in Center sector, with a capacity of 50 children, and the special school no. 12, with a capacity of 110 children. Only those with severe hearing deficiencies go to these institutions. The graduates of 10 grades in school no.12 receive a certificate of secondary education graduation. Afterwards, if they wish, they can enroll at the National Extramural School for the Deaf and People with Impaired Hearing, the only one of its kind in the country, which may help them learn a trade. It is also here where the graduates of three other special schools in Harbovat, Balti and Cahul come to study. Overall, 300 children go to these schools, informed Anatol Danii, senior consultant at the Ministry of Education. Director if the National Audiology Function Center Anghelina Chiaburu said that there were 1450 registered children with hearing deficiencies. Yearly, 120-150 new cases are registered. “It’s clear that people are more familiar now and go to see the doctor in the early stages. Thus, the chances of a correct diagnose are higher. The treatment of deafness that occurred as a result of traumas, intoxications or diseases has real chances of success. The treatment of genetic deafness is not recommended, instead psycho-pedagogic rehabilitation is practiced. “A child with hearing deficiencies needs rehabilitation 24 hours of 24. The goal of psycho-pedagogic rehabilitation is to develop whatever is left of the child’s hearing sense. He learns to listen, to understand and thus develops an acoustic memory. It is a permanent job and needs the participation of the family alongside the specialists. Rehabilitation is life-long. Only then really good results can be achieved”, declared Anghelina Chiaburu. The specialists that teach in special education institutions for children with hearing deficiencies are trained at the State Pedagogical University “Ion Creanga”, where the students learn the sign language. Moldovan specialists are also authors of textbooks for children with hearing deficiencies, which aren’t much different from others. In class, the children learn the sounds with a hearing aid.