Hearing Loss Brief Definition - A hearing loss greater than 90 dB.

Deaf individuals have vision as their primary input and cannot understand speech through the ear - An impairment in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a childs educational performance but that is not included under the definition of deafness. Deafness means a hearing impairment that is so severe that the child is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing with or without amplification that adversely affects a childs educational performance. The phrase with or without amplification is significant as it indicates that a hearing aid will not provide sufficient accommodation so that the student can succeed Characteristics - Difficulty following verbal directions - Difficulty with oral expression - Some difficulties with social/emotional or interpersonal skills - Will often have a degree of language delay - Often follows and rarely leads - Will usually exhibit some form of articulation difficulty - Can become easily frustrated if their needs are not met which will lead to some behavioral difficulties - Sometimes the use of hearing aids leads to embarrassment and fear of rejection from peers Strategies - Face the student at all times. S/he cannot lip-read the back of your head. - Dont cover your mouth with your hands. Also, men with beards and moustaches are difficult to lip-read. - Make sure that there is not a light source behind you shining in the students eyes - Speak in a normal rate. Dont over-articulate. - If calling on students in the class, give the deaf student time to locate his classmate. Often by the time the student locates his classmate, the classmate has already finished speaking. - Include the student with hearing loss in all class experiences. Include the student in conversations and encourage the student to join in-group activities Accommodations/Modifications - Visual Aids should be used whenever possible. Use the board, maps, charts, illustrations, and captioned movies. The student may have mental picture of a concept without knowing the vocabulary. - When showing slides or videos, provide an outline or summary of the materials to be covered in advance to the student. Please provide captioned programs whenever they are available. - Please repeat questions from others in the classroom before answering, except when the student indicates the ability to see/comprehend each participant, as in round table discussions when

speakers face one another. - Provide an interpreter, such as signed English or American Sign Language, to those who require it - Design tests that are appropriate for the student's disorder (written, drawn, or oral) Technology Resources - A sound source, such as a public address system, microphone, or home TV or telephone - An amplifier - A receiver worn in the ears or as a headset - FM American Speech-Language- systems Resources - Better Hearing Institute www.betterhearing.org - Deaf and Hard of Hearing Access Programwww.odc.state.or.us/dhhapindex.htm - Hearing Like Me http://www.hearinglikeme.com - Hearing Loss Education Center http://www.hearinglosseducation.com - Hearing Loss Association of America http://www.hearingloss.org