Deaf and Hard of Hearing

    Types:

                (A) Conductive - sound is reduced or blocked before reaching inner ear. Can sometimes be cleared or sound can

                       be amplified.

                (B) Sensorineural - the problem is in the reception of sound in the inner ear or in transmission of electrical impulses

                                            along the auditory nerve. Inner ear structure problems prevent transmission, even with

                                            amplification.

                (C) Central Auditory Dysfunction - inability to correctly interpret sound that comes from the auditory nerve

    Bilateral - both ears

    Unilateral - one ear or the other

Loss Range                                Classification                                                  Implications

0-26 dB                                     Insignificant                                                    No serious ones

27-40 dB                                   Mild hearing loss;                                           May have difficulty with faint or distant

                                                                                                                        Hard of hearing sounds, with conversations, 

                                                                                                                        and may have loss in groups, or settings with

                                                                                                                        much ambient noise.

41-55 dB                                   Moderate                                                       Frequent difficulty with normal speech,

                                                                                                                        especially in conversations, groups, and

                                                                                                                        class discussions.

56-70 dB                                   Moderate/severe

71-90 dB                                    Severe                                                          Great difficulty with even loud or amplified

                                                                                                                        speech. The latter may seem faint and

                                                                                                                        distorted. Subject usually requires

                                                                                                                        amplification and intensive speech and

                                                                                                                        language training.

91 dB+                                      Profound hearing loss; deaf                             May be aware of loud sounds and

                                                                                                                        vibrations, but generally cannot deal even

                                                                                                                        with amplified speech without special

                                                                                                                        extensive training.

Communication Supports

            Oral Approaches

                            A) Speech reading - receive message by watching speaker’s face, body and hands

                            B) Auditory Training - uses the residual hearing. Involves the development of awareness of sound, then

                                the ability to make gross discriminations among sounds in the environment, and speech sounds.

                            C) Amplification - hearing aids, and FM systems.

            Manual Approaches

                            A) American Sign Language

                            B) Fingerspelling

                            C) Combination Approaches

1) Preferential Seating: Near the front of the room with better ear directed at teacher

2) Allow student to move if teacher location changes

3) Keep hands away from face (allows students to read body language and lips)

4) Make sure to have student’s attention before beginning

5) Have different students repeat back instructions (allows all students a second chance to hear all instructions

6) Do not turn your back to the class when talking (eg. To write on the blackboard)

7) Make sure student(s) have a buddy who can help explain things

8) Rephrase instead of repeating

9) Round tables for group discussions are better that rectangular

10) Be patient and repeat instructions as often as necessary

11) Provide written instructions

12) Visual Aids