EXPLANATION PROJECTBY NICOLE SWANSON

SPED 400

The Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Definition

Deaf: Having a hearing loss of such severity that communication and learning

is primarily by visual methods (i.e., manual communication, writing, speech reading, and gestures)

Hard of Hearing: Having some

degree of hearing loss ranging from mild to profound. People who are hard of hearing may benefit from the use of hearing aids or other assistive listening

devices. They depend primarily upon spoken English in communicating with others.

Causes

Congenital: Hearing loss at birth Two types Genetic and Nongenetic

Genetic Factors: more than 50% of congenital hearing loss Autosomal recessive hearing loss (both parents with

recessive gene) and Autosomal dominant hearing loss (abnormal gene from one parent)

Nongenetic Factors: about 25% of congenital hearing loss prematurity, low birth weight, birth injuries, toxins

consumed by mother, maternal diabetes, lack of oxygen

Causes

Conductive: Sound not conducted efficiently through outer ear Fluid in middle ear, ear infection, allergies, impacted

earwax, malformation of the outer or middle earSensorineural: damage to the inner ear or the

nerve Most common Cause by aging, head trauma, noise exposure, toxin exposure

Mixed Hearing loss Many times people will have a Combination of hearing loss

Symptoms of Hearing Loss

Frequently asking to slow down or speak louder

Avoidance of some social situations

Muffling speech and other sounds Difficulty understanding especially with the

presence of background noise Experience ringing, roaring or hissing in the

ear

Newborn Hearing Screen Tests

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Newborn infant test on the physiological

measurement of the brainstems response to sound

Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) Newborn infant test that measure an acoustic

response that is produced by the inner ear which bounces back out of the ear in response to a sound stimulus.

Tests

Audiogram A graph which plots the type and degree

of a person's hearing loss. It reflects the frequency (pitch) and intensity (loudness), marked in decibel units

Tympanometry Assesses how well the eardrum and

middle ear are workingReflex Testing

Assesses how well the auditory nerve is able to transmit hearing signals to the brain

Speech Testing Evaluate the ability to understand

speech

Technology

Hearing Aids For the mild to moderate hearing loss to amplify the

sound around themCochlear Implants

For the severe and profound hearing loss sound travels into ear from a receiver on the outside of the head into a transmitter which was implanted with surgery and sends the impulses directly to the brain.

Video Phone For those that are completely deaf and rely on

American Sign Language, Video phone allows for a phone conversation that has a hands free video feature

Cochlear Implants

For severe to profound hearing lossGenerally cannot understand speech even

with the assistance of hearing aidsCannot restore normal hearing but with

proper training can replace normal hearing Works best with children younger than 12

months because they learn to talk and hear with their cochlear implants; becomes normal for them

Cochlear Implants

Use of external microphone and speech processor

Transmitter sends radiofrequency signals to the surgically implanted electronic chip

Stimulates the auditory nerve with electrodes that have been threaded through cochlea

Hearing Aids

Used to amplify the surrounding soundDifferent types of hearing aids

Completely in the canal: fits completely in the canal of the ear, least noticeable more features involved In the canal: Fits in the ear canal improves mild to

moderate hearing loss in adults Half-shell: fills only half of outer ear for the mild to

moderately severe hearing loss In the ear (full-shell): fills the whole area of outer ear

for mild to severe hearing loss

Hearing Aids

Behind the ear: Largest, but capable of most amplification

Open fit: very small behind the ear

New technology exists that allows hearing aids to connect to the television or a microphone or even their cell phone via bluetooth This helps in the classrooms and at home to reduce

excess noise that the listener does not want to listen to instead they can listen directly to what they want

Deaf Schools

Law requires that all have the right to a free appropriate public education Schools must provide the tools for deaf or hard of hearing individuals to be successful, such as a translator

Gallaudet University Located in Washington DC is the only liberal arts university

in the world designed for deaf and hard of hearing students for undergraduate programs and deaf related graduate programs

There are more than 100 schools for the deaf across the US but over time due to funding many have closed

American Sign Language

Used among the Deaf communityComplete, complex language that employs signs

made by the hands combined with facial expression and posture

Different countries have their own version of sign language

Those with cochlear implantsencouraged to still learn sign language

How to communicate

If you are deaf or Hard of hearing… Pay attention Plan ahead Ask questions to

confirm details Provide feedback

If you are talking to someone to who is… Slow down Speak loud but don’t

shout Confirm details State the topic Use gestures

Prevention

Reduce loud noise exposure Use ear plug Avoid long term exposure to loud sounds

Get immunization for diseases Prevents illness that can cause loss of hearing

Sound Levels of Common Noises

Decibels Noise Source

Safe Range 30 Whisper

60 Normal Conversation

70 Washing Machine

Risk Range 85-90 Heavy City Traffic

95 Motorcycle

100 Snowmobile, hand Drill

110 Chain Saw, Rock Concert

Injury Range 120 Ambulance Siren

140 (pain threshold) Jet engine at take off

165 12-guage shotgun blast

180 Rocket Launch

Maximum Job-noise exposure allowed by law

Sound Level, decibels Duration, daily

90 8 hours

92 6 hours

95 4 hours

97 3 hours

100 2 hours

102 1.5 hours

105 1 hours

110 30 minutes

115 15 minutes or less

Media and Awareness

Switched at Birth An ABC Family television show that has many deaf

characters and discusses many everyday deaf challenges.

TV shows like this raises public awareness about deafness and with more knowledge people will be more accepting

Deaf Celebrities Christy Smith: Deaf contestant on Survivor Halle Berry: 80% hearing loss in one ear Sean Berdy: deaf actor in Sandlot 2, Switched at Birth plus many more Juliette Low: founder of Girl Scouts was deaf

Work Cited

Department of Human Services, ed. Minnesota Department of Human Services. Minnesota Department of Human

Services, 2013. Web. 2 Apr. 2013.

Hearing Health Foundation, ed. Hearing Health Foundation. Hearing Health Foundation, 2013. Web. 2 Apr. 2013.

Mayo Clinic Staff. "Hearing Loss." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2013.

Web. 2 Apr. 2013.

National Association of the Deaf, ed. National Association of the Deaf. National Association of the Deaf, 2013.

Web. 2 Apr. 2013.

National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, ed. National Institute of Deafness and Other

Communication Disorders. NIDCD, 2013. Web. 2 Apr. 2013.

Ray, Stacie, Dr. "Introduction to Audiology." SLPA 150: Communication Disorder. Barkley Memorial Hall,

Lincoln, Nebraska. Mar. 2013. Lecture.