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HEARING IMPAIRMENT

DESCRIPTION

A hearing impairment is a hearing loss that prevents a person from totally receiving sounds through the ear. If the loss is mild, the person has difficulty hearing faint or distant speech. A person with this degree of hearing impairment may use a hearing aid to amplify sounds. If the hearing loss is severe, the person may not be able to distinguish any sounds. Due to the varying degrees of hearing loss, individuals with a hearing impairment often have difficulty acquiring spoken language. If you have a participant who has a hearing impairment you need to be careful not to assume that they have other developmental or intellectual delays. Typically, many individuals with hearing impairments have average or better than average intelligence.

There are four types of hearing loss:

Conductive: caused by diseases or obstructions in the outer or middle ear that usually affect all frequencies of hearing.

Sensorineural: results from damage to the inner ear. This loss can range from mild to profound and often affects certain frequencies more then others. Sounds are often distorted, even with a hearing aid.

Mixed: occurs in both the inner and outer or middle ear.

Central: results from damage to the central nervous system.

TYPES OF HEARING LOSS

Many people with hearing impairments use assistive devices to enhance their hearing. There are several different assistive devices but the most common ones are:

Hearing Aids: a small electronic device that you wear in or behind your ear which makes some sounds louder.

Cochlear Implant: surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who is severely hard of hearing. The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin.

Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA): a surgically implanted device designed to help people with hearing loss. The BAHA system uses your natural ability to conduct sound to bypass the damaged outer and middle ear and sends clearer, more crisp sound directly to your inner ear.

ASSITIVE DEVICES

MYTHS

If you have a hearing impairment you cannot hear at all 

People with hearing impairments usually have below average intelligence 

WAYS TO COMMUNICATE WITH SOMEONE WITH A HEARING IMPAIRMENT

People with hearing impairment can communicate using numerous methods of communication such as:
 

  • American Sign Language (ASL): consists of hand movements and positions to express thoughts and phrases.

  • Oral Communication: verbal communication consisting of or expressed in words.

  • AAC Devices: communication methods used to supplements or replace speech or writing i.e. DynaVox.

  • PECS: picture exchange communication system

  • Written Communication: communication expressed through written words.

  • Lip reading: a technique of understanding speech by visually interpreting the movements of the lips, face, and tongue. It is only used by 10% of people with hearing impairments, as it is a difficult skill.

      People with hearing impairments may face challenges in following verbal directions, difficulty with oral expression, and difficulties with interpersonal skills. This is due to their hearing loss and they may not be able to hear or fully understand verbal directions or have difficulty vocalizing what they want to say. They may experience difficulty with interpersonal skills for the same reasons. Additionally, sometimes the use of hearing aids leads to embarrassment and fear of rejection from peers. As their support worker, you can help them overcome these challenges by checking in with them to make sure they fully understood the verbal direction(s) given, if not slowly and clearly explain them again.

Strategies to overcome these challenges
 

  •  Help them articulate what they want to say by working with what you understand and requesting more information
     

  • Gently ask them to repeat what they’ve said
     

  •  Facilitate interactions between them and their peers at camp
     

  • Talk with your participant and their peers about their hearing device

CHALLENGES PEOPLE WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENTS MAY FACE

BEHAVIOURS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT SEE

Someone with a hearing impairment may tend to get frustrated easily which can lead to some behavioural difficulties. Strategies you can use to manage difficult behaviours due to frustration would be to communicate with your participant and find out exactly what is causing them frustration. If its due to them not being able to fully hear what is being said you can repeat it to them or if they are having trouble vocalizing what they want to say you can gently help them in doing so. Also, when you or others are talking to them it’s important to be in front of them and in their line of vision when communicating. Noisy environments can also cause grief to someone with hearing impairments so you can try to keep the noise to a minimum.

HOW TO ENSURE THEIR SUCCESS AT CAMP

People with hearing impairments have the ability to have a successful and memorable camp experience! As their support worker, you have the potential to create an inclusive and enjoyable camp environment where your participant can participate in games, activities, make new friends, and enjoy everything camp has to offer.

Some strategies you can use to ensure a successful camp experience for people with hearing impairments are:

Keep a close proximity to your participant
Use visual cues
Smile and maintain eye contact during the time you are talking to them
Use complete sentences when talking
Speak slowly and clearly but do not exaggerate
In group settings, seat the person with a hearing impairment so they can see the whole group
Be aware of your body language
Check for understanding
Advocate for your participant

CONNECT​ WITH US:​​

30 Loafer's Lake Lane

Brampton, ON

L6Z 1X9

CAMP HOURS

AM: 7:30 AM - 9:00AM

PM: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

 

 

MONDAY - FRIDAY

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

ADDRESS

905-846-2370

PHONE US

EXTENDED DAY CARE (EDC)

Kristen Lawrynowycz - Inclusion Specialist, Integration Support

 

Mackenzie Heffernan - Inclusion Specialist, Teens Camp

 

Sabrina Botter - Director of Integration

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