Post on 13-Dec-2015
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.