Understanding Students with Hearing Loss Chapter 14
Dec 20, 2015
Cochlear Implants
What are the issues of controversy? Do you think Mariah, Ricquel, and
Shylah should have an implant?
Definition
Deaf = hearing loss of 70 to 90 decibels or greater and cannot use hearing even with amplification
Hard of hearing = hearing loss in the 20 to 70 dB range and benefits from amplification
Hearing Process
Audition = hearing process Vibration = interpreting patterns in the
movement of air molecules Sound is described in pitch and
frequency– Frequency measured in hertz (Hz)– Loudness measured in decibels (dB)
Outer Ear
Auricle, or pinna, and ear canal– Purpose to collect the sound waves– Funnel sound waves to the tympanic
membrane (eardrum)– Vibrating air hits the eardrum which
causes vibration
Middle Ear Consists of 3 little bones known as the
ossicular chain= malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup)– Vibration of the eardrum causes the
bones to vibrate and transmit sound through the middle ear
– Eustachian tube also in middle ear equalizes air pressure when you yawn and swallow
Inner Ear
Cochlea– Snail-shaped bony structure - multiple
rows of delicate hair cells connected to auditory nerve
Vestibular mechanism– Semicircular canals that control balance
Characteristics
IQ range same as general population Mild to severe language delays Receptive speech impairments
Communication Options
Oral/aural communication– Amplification or cochlear implant– Emphasis on amplified sound to develop
language Manual communication
– Sign language – Finger spelling
Total or simultaneous communication– Combines both sign and spoken communication
Challenges
Academic Achievement– Challenges with reading and writing
Social and emotional development– Parent -child interactions– Peers and teachers - self concept– Social cues– Sense of isolation
Hereditary
1 in 2,000 children Result of inherited autosomal recessive
gene 70 documented inherited syndromes
associated with deafness
Postlingual Causes
Blow to the skull causing trauma to the cochlea
Excessive noise - firecrackers and air guns
Exposure to loud noise over time - rock concerts and headphones– Noise levels of 100 to 110dB– Sustained 90dB levels damaging
Hearing Tests
Evoked otoacoustic emissions: EOAE Screening auditory brain stem
response Audimetry - ABR Behavioral audiological evaluations -
older children
An audiogram is a picture of your hearing. The results of your hearing test are recorded on an audiogram. The audiogram to the right demonstrates different sounds and where they would be represented on an audiogram. The yellow banana shaped figure represents all the sounds that make up the human voice when speaking at normal conversational levels.
The horizontal lines represent loudness or intensity. The 0 decibel (dB) line near the top of the audiogram represents an extremely soft sound. Each horizontal line below represents a louder sound. Moving from the top to the bottom would be consistent with hitting the piano key harder or turning up the volume control on your stereo.
The softest sound you are able to hear at each pitch is recorded on the audiogram. The softest sound you are able to hear is called your threshold. Thresholds of 0-25 dB are considered normal (for adults). The audiogram on the right demonstrates the different degrees of hearing loss.
Types of Hearing Loss
Conductive - air-conduction thresholds show loss but bone-conduction are normal
Sensorineural - no blockage in middle or outer ear - loss is caused by sensitivity in cochlear or auditory nerve
Mixed - both air-conduction/bone-conduction and sensitivity
IDEA Services
Interpreting services Tutoring General classroom assistance Educational planning Sign language instruction
Supplemental Aids
Sound-field amplification system Loop systems Assistive technology
– closed captioned– C-print: real-time translations of the
spoken word
http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/testing/hearing_test.htm
http://www.babyhearing.org/HearingAmplification/HearingLoss/audiogram.asp
http://www.hdhearing.com/Learning/Part2.htm