1. The Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Explanation project
By Nicole Swanson
Sped 400

2. Definition
Deaf: Having a hearing loss of such severity that communication and learning is primarily by visual methods (i.e., manual communication, writing, speech reading, and gestures)
Hard of Hearing: Having some degree of hearing loss ranging from mild to profound. People who are hard of hearing may benefit from the use of hearing aids or other assistive listening devices. They depend primarily upon spoken English in communicating with others.

3. Causes Congenital: Hearing loss at birth
Two types Genetic and Nongenetic
Genetic Factors: more than 50% of congenital hearing loss
Autosomal recessive hearing loss (both parents with recessive gene) and Autosomal dominant hearing loss (abnormal gene from one parent)
Nongenetic Factors: about 25% of congenital hearing loss
prematurity, low birth weight, birth injuries, toxins consumed by mother, maternal diabetes, lack of oxygen

4. Causes Conductive: Sound not conducted efficiently through outer ear
Fluid in middle ear, ear infection, allergies, impacted earwax, malformation of the outer or middle ear
Sensorineural: damage to the inner ear or the nerve
Most common
Cause by aging, head trauma,
noise exposure, toxin exposure
Mixed Hearing loss
Many times people will have a
Combination of hearing loss

5. Symptoms of Hearing Loss
Frequently asking to slow down or speak louder
Avoidance of some social situations
Muffling speech and other sounds
Difficulty understanding especially with the presence of background noise
Experience ringing, roaring or hissing in the ear

6. Newborn Hearing Screen Tests
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)
Newborn infant test on the physiological measurement of the brainstems response to sound
Otoacoustic Emission (OAE)
Newborn infant test that measure an acoustic response that is produced by the inner ear which bounces back out of the ear in response to a sound stimulus.

7. Tests Audiogram Tympanometry Reflex Testing Speech Testing
A graph which plots the type and degree of a person's hearing loss. It reflects the frequency (pitch) and intensity (loudness), marked in decibel units
Tympanometry
Assesses how well the eardrum and middle ear are working
Reflex Testing
Assesses how well the auditory nerve is able to transmit hearing signals to the brain
Speech Testing
Evaluate the ability to understand speech

8. Technology Hearing Aids Cochlear Implants Video Phone
For the mild to moderate hearing loss to amplify the sound around them
Cochlear Implants
For the severe and profound hearing loss sound travels into ear from a receiver on the outside of the head into a transmitter which was implanted with surgery and sends the impulses directly to the brain.
Video Phone
For those that are completely deaf and rely on American Sign Language, Video phone allows for a phone conversation that has a hands free video feature

9. Cochlear Implants For severe to profound hearing loss
Generally cannot understand speech even with the assistance of hearing aids
Cannot restore normal hearing but with proper training can replace normal hearing
Works best with children younger than 12 months because they learn to talk and hear with their cochlear implants; becomes normal for them

10. Cochlear Implants Use of external microphone and speech processor
Transmitter sends radiofrequency signals to the surgically implanted electronic chip
Stimulates the auditory nerve with electrodes that have been threaded through cochlea

11. Hearing Aids Used to amplify the surrounding sound
Different types of hearing aids
Completely in the canal: fits
completely in the canal of the ear,
least noticeable more features involved
In the canal: Fits in the ear canal improves mild to moderate hearing loss in adults
Half-shell: fills only half of outer ear for the mild to moderately severe hearing loss
In the ear (full-shell): fills the whole area of outer ear for mild to severe hearing loss

12. Hearing Aids
Behind the ear: Largest, but capable of most amplification
Open fit: very small behind the ear
New technology exists that allows hearing aids to connect to the television or a microphone or even their cell phone via bluetooth
This helps in the classrooms and at home to reduce excess noise that the listener does not want to listen to instead they can listen directly to what they want

13. Deaf Schools
Law requires that all have the right to a free appropriate public education
Schools must provide the tools for
deaf or hard of hearing individuals to
be successful, such as a translator
Gallaudet University
Located in Washington DC is the only liberal arts university in the world designed for deaf and hard of hearing students for undergraduate programs and deaf related graduate programs
There are more than 100 schools for the deaf across the US but over time due to funding many have closed

14. American Sign Language
Used among the Deaf community
Complete, complex language that employs signs made by the hands combined with facial expression and posture
Different countries have their own version of sign language
Those with cochlear implants
encouraged to still learn sign
language

15. How to communicate If you are deaf or Hard of hearing…
Pay attention
Plan ahead
Ask questions to confirm details
Provide feedback
If you are talking to someone to who is…
Slow down
Speak loud but don’t shout
Confirm details
State the topic
Use gestures

16. Prevention Reduce loud noise exposure Get immunization for diseases
Use ear plug
Avoid long term exposure to loud sounds
Get immunization for diseases
Prevents illness that can cause loss of hearing

17. Sound Levels of Common Noises
Decibels
Noise Source
Safe Range 30
Whisper 60
Normal Conversation 70
Washing Machine
Risk Range
85-90
Heavy City Traffic 95
Motorcycle
100
Snowmobile, hand Drill
110
Chain Saw, Rock Concert
Injury Range
120
Ambulance Siren
140 (pain threshold)
Jet engine at take off
165
12-guage shotgun blast
180
Rocket Launch

18. Maximum Job-noise exposure allowed by law
Sound Level, decibels
Duration, daily 90
8 hours 92
6 hours 95
4 hours 97
3 hours
100
2 hours
102
1.5 hours
105
1 hours
110
30 minutes
115
15 minutes or less

19. Media and Awareness Switched at Birth Deaf Celebrities
An ABC Family television show that has many deaf characters and discusses many everyday deaf challenges.
TV shows like this raises public awareness about deafness and with more knowledge people will be more accepting
Deaf Celebrities
Christy Smith: Deaf contestant on Survivor
Halle Berry: 80% hearing loss in one ear
Sean Berdy: deaf actor in Sandlot 2,
Switched at Birth plus many more
Juliette Low: founder of Girl Scouts was deaf

20. Work Cited
Department of Human Services, ed. Minnesota Department of Human Services. Minnesota Department of Human Services, Web. 2 Apr
Hearing Health Foundation, ed. Hearing Health Foundation. Hearing Health Foundation, Web. 2 Apr
Mayo Clinic Staff. "Hearing Loss." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Web. 2 Apr
National Association of the Deaf, ed. National Association of the Deaf. National Association of the Deaf, Web. 2 Apr
National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, ed. National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. NIDCD, Web. 2 Apr
Ray, Stacie, Dr. "Introduction to Audiology." SLPA 150: Communication Disorder. Barkley Memorial Hall, Lincoln, Nebraska. Mar Lecture.