HEARING LOSS

Regan Doiel

&

Jessica Kaaz

The Hearing Process

Brain translates impulses caused by sound waves into meaningful messages.

Allows communication through the “telling-listening” process.

Facilitates sharing of ideas and emotions, and membership in mainstream society.

People Who are Deaf..

Profound hearing loss Very little, even with aids Restricted ability to communicate Feel part of cultural minority—the Deaf

culture

Three Groups

Congenitallly Deaf—present at birth Prelingually Deaf—occurs before language

development Postlingually Deaf—occurs after age 2 or

language development

Types of Hearing Loss

Conductive Hearing Loss—loss in the outer/middle ear

Sensorineural Hearing Loss—loss in the inner ear

Mixed Hearing Loss—both sensorineural and conducive

Degree of Hearing Loss Mild—hear some speech sounds but soft

sounds are hard to hear Moderate—hear almost no speech at a

normal level Severe—hear no speech at a normal level

and only some loud sounds. Profound—will not hear any speech and only

very loud sounds

Degree of Hearing Loss

Degree of hearing loss refers to the severity of the loss.

Also described as.. Unilateral or Bilateral—One or both ears Pre-lingual or Post-lingual—Before language

acquisition or after Symmetrical or Asymmetrical—Same or differing

degree and configuration of hearing loss in each ear

Progressive or Sudden—Becomes worse over time, or happens quickly

Fluctuating or Stable—Changes over time, or sometimes getting better, sometimes getting worse

Congenital or Acquired/Delayed Onset—At birth or develops later in life

Causes

Maternal Rubella Meningitis Heredity Noise Head trauma Malformation of the inner ear Impacted ear wax Fluid in middle ear (from colds) Punctured eardrum

Prevention

Protect your ears—turn volume down to music

Early diagnosis—have your hearing tested Avoid recreational risks—wear hearing

protectors or take breaks from loud activities

Tests and Diagnosis General Screening Tests—Dr. speaks at

various volumes to see how you respond Tuning Fork Tests—Metal instrument that

produce sound when struck Audiometer Tests—Earphones are worn to

hear various ranges of tones directed to one ear at a time

Treatment

Removing Wax Blockage—Dr. may loosen it with oil, then flush, scoop, or suction the softened wax out

Hearing Aids—makes sounds stronger and easer to hear

Cochlear Implants—amplifies sound and directs it into ear canal; compensates for damaged or nonworking parts of the inner ear

Cochlear Implants Cochlear implants use

an external microphone and speech processor that you generally wear behind your ear. A transmitter sends radiofrequency signals to a surgically implanted electronic chip, the receiver-stimulator, which stimulates the auditory nerve with electrodes that have been threaded through the cochlea.

Strategies for Inclusion

Can be misdiagnosed with behavioral problems

Attention span is shorter General education may be MOST

restrictive environment Much emphasis placed on reading

Communication Tips

Gain attention Don’t shout Rephrase when misunderstood Moderate pace, not slow Use facial expressions and gestures

Implication for P.E. and Sports

Learn basic signs—stop, go, freeze, line up, wait, or yes and no

Visual Timer—visual countdown for activities performed in time increments

Visual Stick—Pictures/symbols for the days activities

Use colored jerseys to distinguish teams Use visual cues for changing stations Provide a helmet for the necessary activities

References

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/types.html

http://www.brighthubeducation.com/special-ed-hearing-impairments/44945-instructing-hearing-impaired-students-in-physical-education-class/

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hearing-loss-treatment-overview

http://www.openroad.net.au/access/dakit/hearing/hhandout14.htm

http://www.hearingloss.org/content/types-causes-and-treatment

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hearing-loss/DS00172