Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Being deaf is defined as having a profound hearing loss. Hard of hearing is defined as hearing loss that impair understanding of sounds and communication.
General Characteristics:
"It's hard to generalize about students with hearing loss. They are all individuals with different learning styles and abilities, but they do share one characteristic: their ability to hear is limited." (page 339)
Strengths & Abilities:

• Better at processing peripheral vision and motion

• Brain rewires to compensate for lack of hearing (other senses become heightened) 

• Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing are typically able to live a completely normal life. Their unique strengths and abilities can differ from individual to individual. With early intervention, students who are deaf and hard of hearing are able to excel in school and beyond.

Needs: (page. 356)

• Teacher to articulate clearly and somewhat slowly
• Teacher to repeat information by paraphrasing
• To be addressed directly & by first name first, before asking a question
• Peer buddy/note taker
•  Reduction of classroom's background noise
• Reminders to check batteries for technology and assistive listening devices daily
• Handouts to support information from lectures, guest speakers, field trips, and instructional media

Examples of Assistive Technology:

1. Click Here to read about my post on HATS (Hearing Assistive Technology Systems)
2. Visual signs (click here to read more)

Resources:

• http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/superpowers-for-the-blind-and-deaf/
• http://www.needsoutreach.org/Pages/dhabil.html