He is also deaf, and although he communicates easily using American Sign Language, he hopes one day to verbalize his thoughts to his football and lacrosse teammates.

Ramirez may just accomplish that goal thanks to a new device called a palatometer, which is designed to help teach deaf people how to speak. Developed by Brigham Young University researcher Samuel Fletcher, it helps users create the precise sounds of speech using computer-imaged feedback.

Ramirez and Nancy Kelley, a teacher at Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind, are experimenting with the device.

At the start of each session, student and teacher insert retainerlike devices into their mouths. Each device, which touches the roof of the user's mouth, contains 118 sensors to detect the placement of the speaker's tongue in relation to the roof of his or her mouth.

Fletcher said lip-reading deaf students often have a hard time duplicating speech because it is difficult to see what goes on inside speakers' mouth as they form words. The palatometer helps them overcome that problem by providing a two-dimensional graphic of the inside of the mouth.

A computer screen shows the position of Kelley's tongue based on where it touches the retainerlike device. What looks like side-by-side dental charts appears on the computer screen, showing the tongue positions of Ramirez and Kelley.

Ramirez tries to reproduce the letter, matching the highlighted contact points from his tongue with those of Kelley.

The computer then saves pictures of Kelley's tongue placement as she says letter sounds and words so Ramirez can play them back for practice.

Some of the letters and words Ramirez speaks sound perfect. Others need work, and Kelley communicates refinements using sign language.

As Ramirez continues to work with the palatometer, his speaking skills will improve. Fletcher said a Las Vegas student produced understandable speech using a palatometer in five weeks of training and was able to sing "Happy Birthday" at his own birthday party.

Many deaf people find the technology promising, but it's also important to remember that "not all signers feel the need to speak," said Christopher Dromey, a BYU speech pathology professor who is collaborating with Fletcher. "Deaf people are very proud of their culture."

He said many who use American Sign Language to communicate consider it a native tongue and view those unable to sign as "foreigners."

Kelley said one of her deaf students refuses to learn to speak because he believes those who want to communicate with him should sign.

On the other hand, "Students who don't speak often have a hard time reading and writing language," Kelley said.

For this and other reasons, many deaf people do want to speak, creating demand for Fletcher's device.

He has formed a company in Arizona called LogoMetrix to market the palatometer, which he said costs about $3,000, including the cost of a standard computer and monitor. The mouthpieces, which must be specially made for each student, cost several hundred dollars.

Ramirez hopes he will be able to speak to his teammates before graduation.

But his teammates, also eager to communicate, are learning a new language as well: They are learning to sign.

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Contact Frank Fisher at ffisher@sltrib.com or 801-257-8693. Send comments on this story to livingeditor@ sltrib.com.