Download Understanding Deafness - presented during staff training File

Becoming ‘Deaf’ Aware
in the class room and at
Reception
Communication Tactics:
This short training session will improve your
communication skills and confidence to help
break down the barriers faced by people who
are Deaf or have a hearing loss.
Aims
By the end of this session you should be able to …
• Identify solutions to situations where people who are
Deaf/hard of hearing face communication barriers
• a better understanding of the impact of a hearing loss on
language and learning.
• Recognise and respond to the different ways Deaf
people communicate.
• Demonstrate how to engage and communicate with Deaf
people.
Nope – I
can’t hear
ya!
Understanding Sound.
• Sound is an invisible vibration that travels
in waves.
• Sounds can vary in loudness and pitch.
• We measure loudness using decibels (dBs)
• We measure pitch using frequencies (Hz)
So speech is a combination of articulated
high and low sounds that can be loud
or quiet.
The ‘sciency graphy’ bit…
Look closely at the graph- what does it tell
you about…
• Everyday sounds
• Speech sounds
Use this knowledge to think about the
job your ears and brain have to do to
listen.
How deaf?
•Mild deafness: 20-40 dB Would
hear a baby crying or music from a
stereo but may be unable to hear
whispered conversation.
•Moderate deafness: 41-70 dB
Would hear a dog barking or
telephone ringing but may be
unable to hear a baby crying.
•Severe deafness: 71-95 dB
Would be able to hear a chainsaw
or drums being played but may be
unable to hear a piano or a dog
barking.
•Profound deafness: >95 dB
Would be able to hear an articulated
lorry or aeroplane noise but not
hear a telephone
An Audiogram
• The red line is the
test for the right
ear
• The blue line is the
test for the left ear
• Say what you see.
• What do you think
the grey shaded
area represents?
Understanding Deafness
• There are different types of deafness- depending on the part of the
ear affected
• It can be in one ear or both
• It can be acquired or be from birth (congenital)
• It can be temporary or permanent
• There are differing degrees of deafness
• Deafness does not fit into one category
• 2 people with the same degree of hearing loss may experience
sounds differently!
• Levels of hearing/deafness can change over time
• It can accompany differing needs/disabilities
DEAFNESS IS ALWAYS ‘INDIVIDUAL’
“Being deaf just means being different.”
I SAID CAN
YOU HEAR
ME!!!!!!!
Challenges
•
Deaf people may not hear all the
words that are spoken AND all the
individual sounds within a word.
•
Deaf people may have a limited
vocabulary because they do not
hear different words being used in
conversations around them and may
not be confident that they have
heard a new word correctly.
•
Think they have understood fully
and not realise that they have
missed out on important information!
Where is
Newquay?
In
Cornwall?
Yes I’ll
have some
cornwall
please
Glasses correct vision…Hearing
Aids correct hearing?
Digital hearing aid
Cochlear implant
• Hearing aids do not restore typical
hearing levels.
• Hearing aids work by making the
sounds going into the ear louder.
• It is important to remember all
noise, including background
noise, is amplified making
communication difficult in noisy
environments.
Unlocking Listening.
• Digital hearing aids and cochlear implants are
programmed ( across a range of frequencies) to ‘match’
closely the variations in the child's hearing for each ear.
• They are highly technical pieces of sophisticated
equipment- they can break, work inconsistently,
malfunction, cost a lot of money, and can be misused.
Watch
my lips.
OMG!- a Deaf person in MY
class!
Top Ten tips for successful
communication …
•
Work together- ‘mini team’
•
Share planning
•
Seating
•
Background/Lighting and distance
•
Quiet working conditions
•
Visual and vibrational distractions?
•
Clear lip patterns & speech
•
Fingerspell?
•
Facial expression and gesture
•
Check understanding
•
Repeat/rephrase
Keep Calm and Carry on!
• Deaf people are given many
opportunities to mix socially with
hearing within and outside the
classroom.
• Strategies used to help include deaf
people will benefit ALL learners.
• There are a team of ‘specialist’ staff
in college to guide and support you.
The key to unlocking the potential within each
individual learner lies in all of us working closely
together.
We each have unique strengths, knowledge and experience to
contribute to the shared view of Deaf peoples needs and the
best ways of supporting them on their learning journey.
We all contribute to providing a rich and stimulating
educational setting in which Deaf people flourish.
Where we strive to give every learner the opportunity to
experience success and to achieve as high a standard as
possible.