Chapter Eleven Individuals with Hearing Impairments

2 Definitions and Concepts in the Field of Hearing Impairment Hearing impairment Hearing impairment –Disordered hearing Hearing sensitivity loss Hearing sensitivity loss –Described in range from mild to profound Deaf/deafness Deaf/deafness –Nonfunctional hearing; federal definition refers to the educational impact due to the hearing loss Hard of hearing Hard of hearing –Residual hearing ability Minimal hearing loss Minimal hearing loss –Difficultly hearing at a distance or with background noise Deaf culture Deaf culture –The term Deaf with a capital D refers to individuals who identify with the Deaf culture

3 Anatomy of the Auditory System

4 Classifications of Hearing Loss Conductive hearing loss Conductive hearing loss –Sound transmission is blocked in the middle or outer ear Sensorineural hearing loss Sensorineural hearing loss –Involves the inner ear (cochlea) and/or the auditory nerve Mixed hearing loss Mixed hearing loss –Combination of conductive and sensorineural loss Central hearing loss Central hearing loss –Dysfunction in the central nervous system Auditory neuropathy/auditory dys-synchrony Auditory neuropathy/auditory dys-synchrony –Absence of neural functioning Functional or nonorganic hearing loss Functional or nonorganic hearing loss –Reported hearing loss that is not substantiated by testing

5 Measurement of Hearing Impairments Audiologist Audiologist Audiometry/Audiogram Audiometry/Audiogram –Includes: pure-tone, air-conduction, bone-conduction, speech recognition, play observations, inner ear acoustics, acoustic transmission Age of onset Age of onset –Prelingual: present at birth or before speech onset –Postlingual: deficit acquired after speech onset

6 Decibel Levels of Common Sounds

7 Brief History of the Field 1817: First school for students with hearing impairments (American Asylum for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb) 1817: First school for students with hearing impairments (American Asylum for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb) 1864: First college for the hearing impaired (today named Gallaudet University after Thomas Gallaudet) 1864: First college for the hearing impaired (today named Gallaudet University after Thomas Gallaudet) Communication methods: Communication methods:  Manual communication- sign language/finger spelling  Oral communication- encouraged use of residual hearing and speech reading  Total communication- combination of spoken and manual communication

8 Prevalence of Hearing Impairments

9 Etiology of Hearing Impairments Genetic Genetic –Recessive and dominant traits –X-linked Infections Infections –Can occur before, during, or after birth Developmental abnormalities Developmental abnormalities –Congenital abnormalities Environmental/traumatic factors Environmental/traumatic factors –Loud noise, low birth weight, medication, etc.

10 Disorders Associated with Hearing Loss in Children

11 Disorders Associated with Hearing Loss in Children (continued)

12 Characteristics of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Intelligence Intelligence Speech and language Speech and language Social development Social development Educational achievement Educational achievement

13 Assessment of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Educational achievement Educational achievement –Levels of academic performance Communication assessment Communication assessment –Receptive and expressive language skills –Articulation, pitch, loudness, quality, rate Personal/social/behavioral assessment Personal/social/behavioral assessment –Social adjustment, self-image, emotional adjustment

14 Suggestions for the Classroom Promote acceptance Promote acceptance Be sure hearing aids are working Be sure hearing aids are working Provide preferential seating Provide preferential seating Increase visual information Increase visual information Minimize classroom noise Minimize classroom noise Modify teaching practices Modify teaching practices Have realistic expectations Have realistic expectations

15 Where are Students with Hearing Impairments Educated?

16 Instructional Interventions Methods of communication Methods of communication –Sign language –Oral –cued speech –total communication –fingerspelling Interpreter Interpreter

17 Sign Language Systems

18 Educational Approaches

19 Services for Young Children with Hearing Impairments Early identification importance Early identification importance Early identification procedures Early identification procedures Early intervention services Early intervention services Family support Family support

20 Transition and Individuals with Hearing Impairments Transition planning includes: Transition planning includes: –Family support –Higher education –Employment –Personal, social, community

21 Services for Adults with Hearing Impairments Office on Deafness Office on Deafness –Advocacy, information sharing, agency referrals, interpreting services, employment assistance State vocational rehabilitation services State vocational rehabilitation services –Employment services National Association for the Deaf National Association for the Deaf –Political advocacy, information sharing Self-Help for Hard of Hearing People Self-Help for Hard of Hearing People –Advocacy, information, assistance

22 Family Issues Most children with hearing impairments have hearing parents Most children with hearing impairments have hearing parents Acceptance of the disability Acceptance of the disability Family relationships Family relationships

23 Issues of Diversity 47% of all students in programs for the deaf and hearing impaired are from culturally diverse groups (Gallaudet Research Institute, 2005) 47% of all students in programs for the deaf and hearing impaired are from culturally diverse groups (Gallaudet Research Institute, 2005) Research is needed to address the needs of students with hearing impairments who come from non-English speaking families Research is needed to address the needs of students with hearing impairments who come from non-English speaking families People who identify with the Deaf culture are proud of their heritage including their language, history, values, and literature People who identify with the Deaf culture are proud of their heritage including their language, history, values, and literature

24 Technology and Individuals with Hearing Impairments Hearing aids Hearing aids Auditory training devices Auditory training devices Computers Computers Alerting devices Alerting devices Captioning Captioning Telecommunication devices Telecommunication devices Cochlear implants Cochlear implants

25 Hearing Aid Styles

26 Cochlear Implant

27 Trends, Issues, and Controversies Appropriate educational methods Appropriate educational methods Move from child-centered to family- centered approach Move from child-centered to family- centered approach Early intervention programs Early intervention programs Interpreter services Interpreter services Deaf culture Deaf culture