Download Hearing Impairment

People with physical and mental
challenges deserve to be treated with
dignity and respect.
disability
profound deafness
mental retardation
Americans with Disabilities Act
Physical Challenges
Most physical challenges affect sight,
hearing, and motor ability.
Physical Challenges
Almost 20 percent of American adults have some
type of disability.
Disability
Any physical or mental impairment
that limits normal activities,
including seeing, hearing, walking,
or speaking
Physical Challenges
Sight
impairment
Most physical
challenges fall
into one of
three categories
Hearing
impairment
Motor
impairment
Sight Impairment
Sight impairment can affect people of all ages.
Regular eye exams can lead to early diagnosis of
many conditions and help prevent blindness or
slow its progress.
Sight Impairment
Common Causes of Blindness
Diabetes
High blood sugar levels lead to damage
of the retina
Macular
Degeneration
A disease in which the retina degenerates
Glaucoma
A disease that damages the eye’s optic
nerve
Cataracts
A condition in which the eye’s lens
becomes clouded
Sight Impairment
Guide dogs are trained to
assist the visually impaired
and the hearing impaired.
Hearing Impairment
Almost 30 million Americans have disabilities that
affect their ability to hear.
Hearing problems range from mild to severe.
Hearing Impairment
The most acute form is profound deafness.
Profound deafness
Hearing loss so severe that a person
affected cannot benefit from mechanical
amplification, such as a hearing aid
Hearing Impairment
Heredity
If one or both parents have hearing impairment,
their child is more likely to develop it as well.
Injury
An injury to the ears or head, such as a skull
fracture, can cause hearing loss.
Disease
Ear infections, brain tumors, measles, and other
conditions can lead to hearing loss.
Obstruction
Hearing loss is sometimes caused by a buildup of
wax or a bone blockage in the ear.
Nerve Damage
Nerve damage often occurs with age, but it can also
result from repeated exposure to loud noises.
Motor Impairment
People with motor impairments cope with physical
challenges in different ways, depending on their
situation.
Motor Impairment
Occupational therapy helps people learn how to
perform everyday functions so that they can lead
independent lives.
Motor Impairment
Assistive devices help people perform everyday
tasks.
Examples include motorized wheelchairs, special
computers, and artificial limbs.
Mental Challenges
Mental disabilities have been linked to
several different causes.
Making healthful choices can help prevent
mental impairment.
Mental Challenges
One challenge that affects a person’s ability to live
independently is mental retardation.
Mental retardation
A below-average intellectual ability
present from birth or early childhood and
associated with difficulties in learning
and social adaptation
Mental Challenges
Factors that Cause Mental Retardation
Injury
Disease
Brain abnormality
Genetic disorders
Behaviors during pregnancy
Rubella infection during pregnancy
Restricted oxygen supply
Accommodating Differences
It is important to provide equal treatment and
opportunities for people with physical and
mental challenges.
Advocacy efforts have resulted in laws and policies
that address discrimination.
Accommodating Differences
Public transportation vehicles and building
entrances must be wheelchair accessible.
People should be evaluated on the basis of individual
merit, not on assumptions about disabilities.
People with disabilities, to the extent they are able,
should have the same opportunities as everyone else.
Accommodating Differences
In 1990, the U.S. government passed the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
A law prohibiting discrimination against
people with physical or mental disabilities in
the workplace, transportation, public
accommodations, and telecommunications.
Accommodating Differences
ADA Provisions
Employers with 15 or more employees must give
qualified individuals with disabilities an equal
opportunity to benefit from employment-related
opportunities.
Accommodating Differences
ADA Provisions
State and local governments must provide
accessible entrances in buildings and
communicate effectively with people who have
hearing, vision, or speech disabilities.
Accommodating Differences
ADA Provisions
Telephone companies must set up
telecommunications relay services (TRS) that allow
callers with hearing and speech challenges to
communicate through an assistant.
Accommodating Differences
In 1998, the government passed the Workforce
Investment Act.
This law ensures that any information posted to a
Web site by a government agency must be
accessible by those who are disabled.
After You Read
Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary
1. What are three common causes of
blindness?
Any three: Complications from diabetes,
macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts
After You Read
Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary
2. What is an assistive device?
A device that helps a physically challenged
person perform everyday tasks
After You Read
Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary
3. Is mental retardation preventable?
Explain
Sometimes; certain behaviors during
pregnancy and failure to get rubella
immunizations can increase the risk of
mental retardation.