Deafness

=**__Deafness__**=

//“Deaf children should not be taught as if they are hearing children who cannot hear”// (Marschark, Lang, & Albertini, 2002, p. 134)


 * __Key Terms__**

deaf – a loss of hearing so severe that the student is “impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification (e.g. Hearing Aids) that adversely affects the child’s educational performance. (McLeskey, Rosenberg & Westling, 2010, p. 176)

People in the "Deaf Community" typically use sign language. In the US, they use [|American Sign Language (ASL)], but in other countries, just like spoken languages, sign language varies greatly. Not everyone who is [|deaf], considers themselves "Deaf". It's a personal decision. ([])
 * D** eaf – In this capitalized form, the word "Deaf" generally implies that the person doesn't hear well enough to understand speech from their hearing, alone, but it also means that they consider themselves part of the "Deaf Community".

American Sign Lang. – (ASL) uses hand shapes, positions, movements, facial expressions, and body movements to convey meaning. ASL uses an alphabet (finger spelling), sign representing ideas, and gestures. ASL is an independent language that has its own grammar and syntax; it is not simply a manual version of English. ([])

Cued Speech – Cued Speech is a system of hand shapes and movements that can be used to supplement spoken sounds so that people with severe hearing loss can still understand what is being said. ([])

Residential School – Schools designed to house a myriad of students from around an area or State in order to provide education to those with similar disabilities (e.g. Maryland School for the Deaf (MD), Model Secondary School for the Deaf (DC).

Audiologist – An audiologist is a trained professional who measures hearing loss and can fit hearing aids. ([])

Audiogram – An audiogram is a means of recording the results of a hearing test. It will include a table and a graph for each ear showing how well you could hear sounds at various frequencies. ([])

Hearing Aids – A hearing aid is anything that helps you hear better. ([]) They consist of three main parts: 1. [|Microphone] 2. [|Amplifier] 3. [|Speaker]


 * __Characteristics Associated with the Exceptionality__**


 * 1) The severity of the hearing loss. When given an Audiogram, the students hearing level will be recorded in decibel levels. Below is an explanation on the range of decibel levels and an explanation of the severity of hearing loss.

Normal hearing range 0-15 dB HL Minimal loss range 16-25 dB HL  Mild loss range 26-40 dB HL  Moderate loss range 41-55 dB HL  Moderately severe loss range 56-70 dB HL  Severe loss range 71-90 dB HL  Profound loss range 91 dB HL or greater ( [])


 * 1) The type of hearing loss or where the loss occurs in the auditory system.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss – This type of hearing loss occurs when the hair cells in the inner ear fail to work correctly, prohibiting sound to travel to the auditory nerve and then to the brain for processing. This type of hearing loss is permanent. Onset can occur during pregnancy or later in life.

Often with Sensorineural hearing loss, the loss is permanent and depending on the extent of the damage to the cochlea (inner ear) will depend on the extent of the hearing loss. []

Conductive Hearing Loss – Conductive hearing loss is caused by a problem in the outer or middle ear. Sound is ineffectively "conducted" to the hair cells in the inner ear that are responsible for sensing sound. In a purely conductive hearing loss, the actual hair cells/nerves of hearing are intact and ready to accept incoming sounds. Sound, however, does not adequately reach these hair cells/nerves. Sounds therefore are heard at a reduced level. The degree of loss depends on what is causing the problematic sound conduction. Often with Conductive Hearing Loss the loss can be treated through medical procedures (e.g. Tubes inserted to reduce fluid in the ear canal and/or ear infections). The hearing may be temporary. ( [])


 * __Prevalence__**

In children – About 1 in 1,000 newborns (or 33 babies every day) is born profoundly deaf and about another 2-3 out of 1,000 babies born with some sort of hearing loss. (//Facts on Hearing Loss, 2005 - 2010// )


 * __Types__**

Sensorineural Hearing Loss –
This type of hearing loss occurs when the hair cells in the inner ear fail to work correctly, prohibiting sound to travel to the auditory nerve and then to the brain for processing. This type of hearing loss is permanent. Onset can occur during pregnancy or later in life.

Conductive Hearing Loss - Conductive hearing loss is caused by a problem in the outer or middle ear. Sound is ineffectively "conducted" to the hair cells in the inner ear that are responsible for sensing sound. In a purely conductive hearing loss, the actual hair cells/nerves of hearing are intact and ready to accept incoming sounds. Sound, however, does not adequately reach these hair cells/nerves. Sounds therefore are heard at a reduced level. The degree of loss depends on what is causing the problematic sound conduction. Mixed Hearing Loss – This is a combination of factors, both Conductive and Sensorineural, that lead to hearing loss. ( [])

1. Sensorineural Hearing Loss – Some causes included:
 * __Causes__**

Onset before or during birth: · Maternal infections such as rubella, herpes, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, CMV · Heredity (genetics) · Asphyxia or lack of oxygen at birth · Possible association with birth weight of less than 1,500 grams · Possible association with defects of the head and neck · Possible association with maternal drug or alcohol abuse Later onset (can occur any time after birth): · Bacterial meningitis · Ototoxicity (drug induced) · Intense or excessive noise · Physical trauma to the head or ear · Aging (the most common cause in older adults) ([])

2. Conductive Hearing Loss –

• Conditions associated with middle ear pathology such as fluid in the middle ear from colds, allergies (serous otitis media), poor eustachian tube function, ear infection (otitis media), perforated eardrum, benign tumors • Impacted earwax (cerumen) • Infection in the ear canal (external otitis) • Presence of a foreign body • Absence or malformation of the outer ear, ear canal, or middle earDeafness ( [])


 * __Identification__**

Most States have adopted a ‘New Born Hearing’ screening that is able to detect at birth the hearing ability of the infant. If there is a cause for concern a follow-up ABR is suggested.

The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing and U.S. Public Health Service’s Healthy People 2010 health objectives8 recommend that all newborns be screened for hearing loss by 1 month of age, have diagnostic follow-up by 3 months, and receive appropriate intervention services by 6 months of age.

(//Facts on Hearing Loss, 2005 - 2010// )

As the child grows and hearing loss is suspected at a later onset, other hearing tests/screenings may be required.

· OAE: The OAE screen (Otoacoustic Emission) · ABR: The ABR screen (Audiotory Brainstem Response) · Booth test ( [])

(McLeskey, et all, 2010, p. 176)
 * __Instructional Strategies and Tips__**
 * Always face the class when presenting information.
 * Provide written instructions as well as verbal.
 * May need to have an ASL or Cued Speech interpreter in the classroom.
 * Preferred seating.
 * Use of an FM system to amplify sound.
 * Reduce incidental noise.


 * Understanding that the visual is a large component of how deaf children interpret information.
 * Clarify multiple meanings of terms or idioms that are unique to spoken English.
 * Provide active, hands-on learning experiences.
 * Long term and short term memory access is not the same as a hearing peer, make accommodations.
 * Acquiring reading ability is difficult, may need to provide lower level readers, same content.
 * Attending to 2 different types of communication is difficult, allow for extra processing time. (Marschark, et all, 2002)

· Deafresources.com · Hearing Loss Association of America · Alexander Graham Bell Association · National Association for the Deaf · Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center Information on Deafness · American Speech and Language Hearing Association · []
 * __Key Resources__**


 * __References__**
 * 1) Marschark, Marc, Lang, Harry G., & Albertini, John A. (Eds). (2002). //Educating Deaf Students//, //From Research to Practice.// New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
 * 2) McLeskey, James, Rosenberg, Michael S., & Westling, David L. (Eds). (2010). //Inclusion, Effective Practices for All Students// . Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
 * 3) American Sign Language (ASL) (n.d.) in //Hearing Loss Association of North Carolina.// Retrieved from []
 * 4) Gallaudet University. (1995 – 2009). //Info to Go.// Retrieved from []
 * 5) American Speech – Language – Hearing Association. (1997 – 2010). //Type, degree and Configuration of Hearing Loss.// Retrieved from []
 * 6) Hearing Loss Association of North Carolina. (2003). //HoH Glossary and Acronyms.// Retrieved from []
 * 7) Hearing Loss Association of America. (2005 – 2010). //Facts on Hearing Loss.// Retrieved from []