Chapter Summary:
Chapter 9 explains that hearing loss exists on a continuum from mild to profound, and most special educators distinguish between children who are deaf and those who are hard of hearing. A deaf child cannot understand speech through the ears alone. A hard-of-hearing child can use hearing to understand speech, generally with the help of a hearing aid. You will also learn about the characteristics, prevalence, types, causes, identification, assessment, assistive technologies, and educational approaches for children with deafness and hearing loss.
Learning Outcomes:
• State what distinguishes a child who is deaf from a child who is hard of hearing in terms of the primary sensory mode used for learning and communication.
• Describe how deafness or hearing loss affects a child’s acquisition and use of speech and language, academic achievement, and social functioning.
• Identify the estimated prevalence of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Describe basic types of hearing loss, common causes of each, and how age of onset affects a child’s education and learning needs.
• Describe the information provided by an audiogram.
• Identify technologies and supports used by students who are deaf and hard of hearing to amplify, supplement, or replace sound.
• Compare and contrast the underlying philosophies, methods, and key components of oral/aural, total communication, and bilingual-bicultural approaches to educating students who are deaf and hard of hearing.
• Briefly explain how placement can influence quality of related services, access to language and curriculum content, social opportunities, and cultural identity for a student who is deaf.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you believe that schools should be responsible for the cost of providing interpreters for students who are hearing impaired? Why or why not? Do you believe that businesses should do the same for their employees? Explain your response.
2. Why is it that many people, with a hearing impairment, do not view their hearing loss as a disability?
3. What is your position in the debate regarding cochlear implants? Would your position change if your own child was deaf? Explain your response.
Chapter Activity:
1. Watch the video, Deafness or Hearing Loss:
Answer the following questions:
What is deafness and hearing loss?
How can a person obtain deafness or hearing loss?
What assistive technologies can be used to support a child with deafness or hearing loss?