Abstract
The education of people with hearing loss has developed in the last approximately thirty years significantly. The group of pupils and students with impaired hearing represents a heterogeneous part of populations and isn't easy to be defined.
Partial or full loss of hearing hinders this group in optimal education in the national language (Czech). The fact that the sign language is nowadays accepted as a natural language of people with hearing impairment means a fundamental step forward.
Theoretical and legislative development happening in this field in the last decades doesn't have to reflect the practical side of these issues. The presented paper focuses on theoretical and practical development in the education of pupils and students with hearing loss in the Czech Republic.
The time frame we focused on is especially the time after 1918; last thirty years have been studied in a more detailed way. The presented text reflects how the work and study chances have changed for this minority population group.