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Hearing Loss and Deafness:
In today’s society people who experience hearing loss or who are deaf have many different options and opportunities to enhance their hearing. Unlike before, technology and new medicines make hearing possible for children and adults. We should first define what it means to have hearing loss, and what it means to be deaf. A person with hearing loss is often considered hard of hearing meaning their unable to understand sounds and communication. Those people who have profound hearing loss and are unable to understand sound and communication even with the help of hearing aids are considered deaf.

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- Conductive hearing loss : Hearing impairment due to damage of obstruction to the outer of middle ear that obstructs transfer of sound to the inner ear. =====

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Most children experience some conductive hearing loss due to head colds and ear infections. It is likely that 20% of elementary school students experience this type of hearing loss on a daily basis and 80% will experience hearing problems between Kindergarten and Fifth grade. =====

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- Sensorineural hearing loss : Hearing impairment due to damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve. ===== When it comes to Sensorineural hearing loss, the greater the damage to the hair cells the more intense the hearing damage. This type of hearing loss is less common in children and is harder to fix.

Degree of Hearing Loss:
· **Mild hearing loss**: Only speech that is soft or is produced at a distance is difficult to hear or understand. · **Moderate hearing loss**: Typical conversational speech is hard to follow. · **Moderately severe hearing loss**: Only loud speech can be heard. · **Severe hearing loss**: Even loud speech is hard to understand. · **Profound hearing loss**: Considered deaf, the individual must use assistive listening devices to understand information presented orally.

For Teachers:
According to IDEA’ 04: Considering the Communication Needs of Students with Hearing Loss

When developing the IEP for a student who is deaf or hard of hearing, the IEP Team must consider
 * The individual’s language and communication needs
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Opportunities for direct communication with peers and professional personnel in the student’s language and communication mode
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">The student’s academic level.

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Academics:
<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">An ongoing concern for many teacher when it comes to deaf and hard of hearing students is low academic achievement, mainly in the area of reading. It is important for teachers to remember that good reading skills for these individuals is vital for normal function in areas such as:


 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Reading captions on the television and movies.
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Use of the internet and e-mail.
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Success in high school and college.
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Acquire better jobs in the workforce.

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Tips for Classroom Management: Making Adjustments

 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Place student as close ﻿ to the speaker as possible.
 * 2) <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Use an overhead projector to keep from having your back to the class.
 * 3) <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Reduce backgroud noise as much as possible.
 * 4) <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">For class discussions, arrange students in a circle group so that the student can see everyone's face.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Technology and Assistive Devices
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> ﻿ ﻿Assistive listening devices (ALDs)- Equipment (hearing aids, audio loops, FM transmission devices) that helps improve use of residual hearing.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">3 Types of Hearing Aids:
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Hearing Aids: Assistive listening devices that intensify sound
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Analog hearing aids: Assistive listening devices that amplify all sounds, including background noises and speech sounds reguardless of individuals hearing profiles
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Digital hearing aids: Assistive listening devices that amplify sound according to individuals hearing profiles

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Cochlear Implants: These are surgically implanted devices that help with sensorineural hearing loss.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Below is a link that will give an in depth look at Cochlear Implants: <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">[]

<span style="color: #00c6ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Information for Parents:
<span style="color: #00c6ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Provided Below are additional links for parents about hearing loss and prevention of hearing loss for their children:

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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">﻿Citation of Information:

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Introduction to Special Education: Making a Difference 7th Edition By: Deborah Smith and Naomi Tyler (Textbook) <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (Internet site)