Hearing ImpairmentBy: Haleigh Baker

Hearing

1. Sound waves out in the air travel to the pinna and enter the ear

2. Sound waves travel through the ear canal to the middle of the ear.

3. Sound waves reach the inner ear by the eardrum and the ossicles

4. Sound waves are sent to the auditory nerve and reach the brain.

Common Types of Hearing Impairments

Conductive Hearing Loss

Still hear, but the sound levels seem lower

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Still hear, but have trouble hearing clearly, understanding speech, and interpreting various sounds

Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder

Involves the disorganization of the sound transmission from the inner ear to the brain

Central Hearing Loss

Less frequent type and more difficult to treat

Auditory Processing Disorders Can most often hear well in a quiet environment

A Hearing Aid

Microphone

Amplifier

Receiver

Battery

A Hearing Aid is...

“A device that helps to amplify and process sound so that a person can hear what’s going on around them in the most natural way possible.”

Hearing Aid Parts

Behind-The-Ear(BTE)

Most common type

Best choice if a person has severe hearing loss or for children

Manual controls for volume and program change are placed on the top side of the aid

In The Ear (ITE)or Full Shell

Best choice if a person has a mild to severe hearing loss

Not recommended for children

Comes with optional user controls for program and volume change on the outside shell plate

In The Canal (CIC)or Half-Shell

Smallest Model

Best choice if a person has a moderate to mild hearing loss

Works automatically

Receiver In The Canal (RIC)

Newer in development

Best choice if a person has a mild to severe hearing loss

Works fully automatically

Cochlear Implants

A person might try after trying a hearing aid

Sends signals directly to the brain

Can allow people to hear who have never been able to hear before, but there are concerning factors

A Hearing Impairment In The Classroom

Let the student find the best place for them to sit

Show movies that have captions

Have rugs or carpet

Collaborate with the interpreter/transliterator

Teacher AccommodationsUse an overhead

projector

Incorporating visual aids

Do not repeat single words

Stand still while talking

Classroom Environment Accommodations

Resourceswww.googleimages.com

http://www.hearinglikeme.com/facts/making-plan/hardware

https://www.ncbegin.org/index.php?view=article&catid=41%3Aschoolissues&id=140%3Ageneral-tips&tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=&option=com_content&Itemid=220

http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&ps=207&cat_id=20163&article_set=22591

http://www.widex.com/en/products/hearingaidtypes/bte/

http://www.widex.com/en/products/hearingaidtypes/ite/

http://www.widex.com/en/products/hearingaidtypes/cic/

http://www.widex.com/en/products/hearingaidtypes/ric/