Hearing Impairment ‘Matatizo Ya Kusikia’

Definition: Hearing impairment is when an individual loses the ability to hear in either one or both ears. The level of impairment can vary from mild to severe or total loss of hearing.

What causes a hearing loss? Inherited (‘Kurithi’) Premature birth (‘Kuzaliwa Mapema’), Certain conditions during birth like lack of oxygen to breath. Certain drugs can cause deafness. Head injuries (‘Majeraha Ya Kichwa’) Excessive loud music Old age

There are two types of hearing impairment: one is called conductive hearing impairment which is when the outer (‘Nje’) or middle (‘Katikati’) ear is damaged. This can be medically treated. The second is sensorineural and this is when there is damage to the inner (‘Ndani’) part of the ear. In most cases, this is irreversible (‘Malena’) and cannot be healed.

Types of Hearing Impairments

The Ear structure

Important details: The Normal Ear can notice sounds between ,000 HZ The most sensitive area is HZ (Human voice) Average conversation volume: 50 DB Levels of hearing loss: 0-30 DB: Mild loss DB: Moderate (‘Kadirifu’) DB: Severe (‘Kali’) DB: Profound (‘Makubwa’) How we Hear?

Levels of Hearing Impairment

Important details: Nearly 300 million people worldwide suffer from some hearing loss in both ears. The majority of those people live in developing or middle class countries.

Socially, deaf culture divides to two groups: Deaf and deaf “Deaf” refers to an individual who identifies himself as a member of the Deaf community. “deaf” with a small ‘d’ refers to individual who see themselves as part of the hearing group.

Deaf Psychology There is a connection between the family’s status (Deaf/Hearing) and the child’s personal/social development. Deaf children that are born to a deaf family (‘Viziwi Familia’) are raised in the deaf community and are born to a feeling of belonging. Deaf children that are born to hearing family (‘Kusikia Familia’) feel different, and are more likely to have social emotional difficulties. In these kind of family’s an adjustment (‘Marekebisho’) should be made to fit the child’s needs.

Main obstacles (‘Vikwazo’) in the Deaf child’s growth: Difficult relationships (mahusiano) with the hearing parents/ Care givers. Communication difficulties: speaking the Language. Lack of social interactions (mwingiliano wa kijamii) – Due to over protection and low expectations. Slower studying of social rules.

What can we do? Adjust the close environment like the family and the school to the child’s needs: Getting use to the Impairment. Developing communication skills: Sign Language, Eye contact, Etc. Proper Education.

Benefits (faida) of visual art therapy visual art can be an alternatives to traditional talk therapy. these type of therapy enables the deaf client to gain deeper self-understanding by creating an object or scene that reflects his inner and interpersonal worlds. It allows access to feelings that cannot express because of the difficult to use verbal way. Through the freedom experienced in expressive therapies, the deaf can learn more about himself and the facilitator can try to get access to his inner world.

Music Therapy & Deaf Deaf can feel music through vibrations- Low pitch & high volume- Better! Materials (vifaa) that can pass better vibrations: Wood, Glass, Lather, Balloons. Different vibrations can have different affects on us. All types of rhythmic and sensitive Activities will work with deaf children: Rhythmic Improvisation, Rhythmic songs, Playing a feeling, Etc.

Music Therapy & Deaf writing rhythmic songs with words in sign language. Music can develop the child’s hearing abilities that remain. We can play music on the floor, on walls, empty cans, Tables, recycled materials, Etc. Music can facilitate Deaf children’s vocalization through musical games: Morse codes, vocal production: tension and release, short/ long, loud/ soft, Vocal group work (Ostinato), Speech Therapy (Aa, Oo, Uu, Ee, Ii).