Hearing Impairments
Title V of the California Education Code lists Hearing Impairments under the heading Communication Disability.Definitions
- Hearing Impairment- A generic term used to describe all types of hearing defects, ranging from a minute loss to profound deafness
- Hard of Hearing - A specific condition in which hearing is defective to varying degrees; usually a hearing aid can enhance the understanding of speech.
- Deaf or Deafness - An inability to use hearing as a means of communication; hearing aids can enhance awareness of vibrations such as horns or sirens, but not speech.
Suggestions
Communication
Lighting is very important when communicating with a deaf or hard-of-hearing person. Do not stand in front of a window or bright light when talking. Try to talk where there is adequate, well-distributed light. Be sure to face them when talking. Speak at a normal pace and do not over-exaggerate your lip movements. Keep your hands away from your face. Facial activities such as cigarette smoking, vigorous gum chewing, or biting your lips prevent clear communication. Using facial expressions, gestures, and other "body language" is helpful in conveying your message. Be aware that individuals who can hear make the best lip readers. Of individuals who had extensive training in lip reading, hard-of-hearing students can understand up to 50 percent of speech, and deaf students can understand only up to 25 percent. It takes a great deal of concentration to lip read.If you see a student with a hearing aid, this does not mean that the student can understand verbal language. The student may require an alternative form of communication such as an interpreter, note taker, or use of other hearing aid devices. When using an interpreter to communicate with a student, address the student directly. Many students who are hard-of-hearing do not hear tone of voice, therefore, some expressions, such as sarcastic statements, might be misleading if taken literally. Try to avoid giving misleading information this way. Also, try to avoid using idioms or colloquial expressions.
Seating
A student who is deaf or hard-of-hearing depends on visual cues to supplement what is heard. Seating is an important consideration. The student will need to be near the front with an unobstructed view. If a student has a unilateral hearing loss,seating should maximize use of the good ear.Participation
When students use an interpreter, there is a time lag between the spoken word and the interpretation. The student's contribution to the lecture or discussion may be slightly delayed. Students may have some speech and/or language impairments. Although this does not affect a student's ability to learn new information, some difficulty in the acquisition of new vocabulary may lead to reluctance to participate in class. Assumptions should not automatically be made about the student's ability to participate in certain types of classes. For example, students may be able to learn a great deal about music styles, techniques, and rhythms by observing a visual display of the music on an oscilloscope or similar apparatus or by feeling the vibrations of music.Testing
Most students will be able to take tests in the same way as other students. Some may need additional time in order to gain a full understanding of the test questions. It has been found that if the test is written, some students do better if an interpreter reads and translates the questions to the student in sign language. However, many other students prefer to read tests themselves. If the method of evaluation is oral, the interpreter can serve as the reverse interpreter for the student.The primary form of communication with the deaf community is sign language. In view of this, many persons who are deaf since birth or an early age have not mastered the grammatical subtleties of their "second language" English. This does not mean that instructors should overlook errors in written (or spoken) work. However, they should know that this difficulty with English is not related to intelligence but is similar to that experienced by students whose native language is other than English.
Interpreters
Some students will attend classes with an oral or sign language interpreter. The interpreters will usually situate themselves in front of the class to interpret lectures and discussions. Interpretation will be easiest in lecture classes and more difficult in seminar or discussion classes. Because class formats are so varied, it is recommended that the professor, interpreter, and student arrange a conference early in the course to discuss any special arrangements that may be needed. If you need to communicate directly with the interpreter, he or she will interpret your conversation into sign language for the student.Captioning Media
Movies/films shown in class must be captioned - all oral information displayed in written form on the screen, usually under the pictures. All videos/films presented in CA Community Colleges must be captioned. Check with CSM's Media Center or Disabled Students Programs & Services (DSPS) for information on getting your media captioned. Students who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or who have difficulty processing language might need extra time to process this information because they cannot watch the video/film and also read the text or follow the interpretation at the same time. Make the movies/film available for the student outside of class time. DSPS has a station where students can view videos. Captioning has the advantage of presenting both video and text together. Students who are learning English because they have another first language also benefit from seeing the English captions while hearing the audio.Note Takers
Because the student will need to watch the interpreter when you or anyone else is speaking, it will be necessary to select a note taker. Your help in doing this will be very much appreciated.Possible Accommodations
- Alternative testing (extended time, distraction-reduced setting, and/or computer)
- Note-taking assistance
- Academic support (drop-in specialized tutoring)
- Interpreter, real-time captioning.
