Hearing Loss

IDEA defines deafness as a hearing impairment that is so severe that the student is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing (with or without amplification) and the student’s educational performance is adversely affected” ( Turnbull, et al, 2010). Two terms describes hearing loss; deaf and hard of hearing. The hearing loss could occur in one of two ways; unilaterally or bilaterally. Unilateral refers to loss in one ear; bilateral means hearing loss occurs in both ears. Depending on how sever the hearing loss is will determine if the student will be classified as deaf or hard of hearing.

To be considered deaf, a person must have hearing loss of 70 to 90 decibels (dB) or more and unable to use their hearing even with amplification. To be considered hard of hearing, a person must have a hearing loss of 20 to 70 decibel range and can benefit from amplification.

Characteristics of Hearing Loss

Speech and English Language Development: Children are born with an inane ability and desire to communicate. Children who are born deaf or hard of hearing also have this innate ability and desire to communicate, however, because of their hearing loss, their ability to develop language can become mild or severe. These students ability to speak will also be affected, since we learn our primary language simply by being exposed to it.

Oral/Aural Communication: Is an approach to teach students with hearing loss to use any residual hearing they may have to develop listening and speaking skills. Oral/ Aural Communication encourages early identification and subsequent amplification or cochlear implant to enhances the student’s listening skills and stresses that students use speech to communicate. This approach also uses amplification of sounds to develop oral language.

Manual Communication: This approach encourages some kind of sign language to communicate. Sign language uses a combination of hand, body and facial movements to communicate. Fingerspelling uses hand representation of each of the 26 letters of the alphabet. American Sign Language (ASL) is the most widely used sign language among deaf adults in North America. This sign language is meant to convey concepts not just single words. Cued speech is also used as manual communication, in which an individual communicate about sounds, rather than meaning.

Total or Simultaneous Communication:  “This approach combines as many sources of information as possible, including simultaneous communication of both sign and spoken language and support for residual hearing. Amplification, speech reading speech training, reading, writing are all used in combination with signs” ( Turnbull, et al, 2010).

Academic Achievement: Students who are deaf or hard of hearing academic success various depending on their individual characteristics as well as the characteristics of those around them. Students with hearing impairment who are included in the general education classroom shows a higher academic achievement than those who are excluded. However, parents, students and IEP teams may decide that it is in the best interest of the student to be in a classroom that is self-contained for the student to receive direct instruction in their language.

Social and Emotional Development: There are four factors that affect deaf students’ social and emotional development; parent-child interaction; peers and teachers; social cues; feeling of isolation and loneliness. When communication is easy, students learn social norms, rules of conversation, appropriate ways to respond and how to develop relationships. When communication is difficult, students can miss social cues which can learn to them becoming withdrawn.

Causes of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss may occur at birth( congenital) or after birth( acquired). There are a number of factors that may cause hearing loss; hereditary or genetic factors, an event/injury during pregnancy( prenatal), an injury at or after birth(postnatal), or trauma, disease, or exposure to excessive noise.

Prenatal Causes: The major cause of congenital deafness is infection that occurs during pregnancy or soon after the baby is born. Other exposure to viruses, bacteria or other toxins before or after birth can also cause hearing loss. Rubella used to be a big cause of hearing loss; however the rubella vaccine has decreased the number of incident significantly. Toxoplasmosis is characterized by jaundice and anemia and results in hearing loss in about 15% of infants born to mothers with the virus.  Premature infants about 3.5 lbs have a high risk of having hearing loss

Postnatal Causes: Infections in infants and early childhood can also lead to hearing loss. The most common hearing loss in young children is caused by ear infections. 75-90% of all young children have at least one ear infection before they are two years old; a critical time for developing speech and language.

Postlingual Causes: Injury to the skull can cause trauma to the cochlea and may lead to a sensorineural hearing loss. It can also damage the middle ear bones, resulting in conductive loss. Being around excessive noise can also cause hearing loss; using headphone at very high intensity or rock concerts may be damaging to the ear as well. Consistent exposure to loud sounds over 90dB is harmful and should be avoided.

Inclusion Ideas

Make learning meaningful by providing authentic experiences for students who are deaf and hard of hearing. Allow for self-expression; provide opportunities for students to meet and interact with deaf role models and teach about deaf studies. Consider students’ language and communication needs, as well as opportunities for direct communication with peers and opportunities for direct instructions in the student’s language and mode of communication when developing their IEPs. Teachers should also remember that peers can be helpful when including deaf or hard of hearing students; teach the class some sign language to help better communication for all, and use a buddy system to tutor or support the student as they work together.

Support for individuals with hearing loss

Ochchlear Americas

1.800.483.3123: Recipient Support

1.800.633.4667 option 2: Medicare, Medicaid, Kaiser and Tricare Support

https://www.cochlearamericas.com/

Hearing Loss Olathe, KS

Midwest Ear Nose & Throat P.A.
913-764-2737
20375 W 151st St Suite 106
Olathe, KS 66061

Associated Audiologists
913-498-9334
12330 Metcalf Ave
Overland Park, KS 66213