Download Children may have hearing loss if they

Hearing Loss In Children
KARIE JOHNSON
EEC 4731
JANUARY 28, 2010
How We Hear
Sound enters the ear, travels down the ear canal, strikes the ear drum, and causes
vibration. These vibrations cause the ossicles in the middle ear to vibrate , which
then causes the fluid of the inner ear to move. The movement of the fluid allows the
hair cells to send electrical signals through the auditory nerve to the brain. The
brain then interprets these signals as sound.
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Any disruption to this process results in hearing loss.
Types of Loss
There are four different types of hearing loss, and each has its own causes and
treatments.
 Conductive Loss

Refers to loss that is caused by blockage, and is usually treatable
 Sensorineural Loss

Loss that is permanent and due to defect or injury
 Mixed Hearing Loss

Loss that is a combination of conductive and sensorineural loss
 Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder

Refers to the brain’s inability to understand the sounds that have entered the ear canal
Signs and Symptoms To Look For
Babies may have hearing loss if they:
 Do not startle at loud noises
 Do not turn toward the source of sound
 Do not babble or say simple words by the age of 1 year
 Hear some sounds but not others
Children may have hearing loss if they:
 Have delayed or unclear speech
 Fail to follow directions often
 Ask for directions or statements to be repeated often
 Are quiet, withdrawn and reluctant to interact with others
 Use gestures to communicate
 Use imitation
Steps To Take
If a child is believed to have hearing loss, it is important that the child is
tested as soon as possible. A good place to start is with the child’s primary
care physician.
 Hearing Screening
 If child does not pass the hearing screening they will then be referred to
an audiologist
 Full Hearing Test by an Audiologist including:
 Auditory Brainstem Response test
 Otoacoustic Emissions test
 Behavioral Audiometry Evaluation
 Results shared with
 Primary physician
 Otolaryngologist
 Opthamologist
 Geneticist
Managing Hearing Loss
Children with hearing loss have many resources
available to them to aid in communication. These
include things such as:


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
Hearing aids
Sign Language
Cochlear Implants
Assistive devices- Text messaging, Telephone amplifiers, Flashing and vibrating alarms, Audio loop systems, Infrared
listening devices, Portable sound amplifiers, T TY (Text Telephone or teletypewriter)


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Exceptional education
Medication
Surgery
Support Groups
In The Classroom
Some accommodations that teachers can make for students with hearing loss:
 Reduction of background noise
 Use of voice amplifiers
 Provide more individualized instruction
 Face the student and speak slowly and clearly
 Use gestures when possible
 Use demonstrations or modeling
 Use facial expressions and body language
 Use visual aids
 Write all instructions on the board
 Use captioning when possible
 Provide outlines of material in advance
As A Teacher
As a teacher, it is my duty to provide the best education possible to all students. In order
to do that I must be aware of any disabilities my students may have, and be willing to
make the proper accommodations. For the students that have hearing loss, I will be sure
to follow the recommendations stated in the previous slides, and will work with the
student and his or her parents to provide the best learning environment possible. I will
also encourage the entire class to be helpful and considerate towards their classmates
with hearing issues.
I will also keep in mind the knowledge that many times students are mislabeled with
other issues, when in fact they have hearing loss . I know that catching a problem early on
can lead to a much better outcome for the student.
Sources
"CDC - Hearing Loss, Facts - NCBDDD." Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Web. 28 Jan. 2011.
<http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/facts.html>.
"Hearing Loss." American Speech-Language-Hearing Association | ASHA. Web.
28 Jan. 2011. <http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Hearing-Loss/>.
Marotz, Lynn R. Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child. Australia:
Thomson Delmar Learning, 2009. Print.
"Strategies for Teaching Students with Hearing Impairments." Web. 28 Jan. 2011.
<http://www.as.wvu.edu/~scidis/hearing.html>.
Clip Art Courtesy of Microsoft Office