What does Hearing Loss mean?

Is it the…• Inability to hear the ‘normal’ range of sounds?• Ability to process language visually manually?• Inadequacy of a biological ability which is measured in

terms of intensity and frequency?• Type of hearing status which .1 % people have?• Threshold above 60 dB in better ear?• Hearing level that put the child at risk for limited

language and speech?• A challenge for which family members are totally

unprepared in 95% of the cases?• An opportunity to have one additional identity – the

Deaf identity?

Or is it…• A communication and academic concern which

needs earliest attention?• An ability to do everything else but to hear

without technological support?• A condition which makes one, hearing aid

dependent?• A problem with multiple solutions?• A type of state listed disability which is managed

better in developed societies?• A condition that makes success and happiness

depend on several environmental factors?

YES.......ALL responses are correct and hence add a bit to the holistic understanding of Deafness.

Does it sound a little too complicated?

Then, Let’s Simplify

Rather than running behind academicdefinitions or fancy one liners, let us get downto some Frequently Asked Questions.

What does hearing loss mean?

Majority of the human beings are able to hear sounds from a particular range.

An individual is said to have hearing loss when he/she is unable to hear that commonly known range of sounds without any aid.

How is hearing loss measured?

What are the common types of Hearing Loss?

• Conductive: When hearing loss is due to problems with the ear canal, ear drum, or middle ear and its little bones.

• Sensory Neural: When hearing loss is due to problems of the inner ear, also known as nerve-related hearing loss.

• Mixed: In this type of hearing loss, there may be damage in the outer or middle ear and in the inner ear (cochlea) or auditory nerve.

What are the degrees of Hearing Loss?

• Mild hearing loss: With a mild hearing loss difficulty will occur forsoft speech and listening in background noise.

• Moderate hearing loss: With a moderate hearing loss oneexperiences difficulty hearing conversations, especially while inbackground noise. The TV or radio may be turned to higher levelsalso in order to be heard clearly.

• Moderately severe hearing loss: For a person with a moderately-severe hearing loss, clarity of speech is significantly reduced andthe most difficulty will occur in groups.

• Severe hearing loss: Loud speech is also difficult to hear orunderstand. At this point people with severe hearing loss will onlyhear if speech is shouted or amplified for them.

• Profound hearing loss: At this level, people with profound hearingloss may have difficulty understanding even amplified speech.

What are the causes of Hearing Loss?

• Malformation of outer ear, ear canal, or middle ear structures

• Fluid in the middle ear from colds• Ear infections• Allergies• Poor Eustachian tube function• Perforated eardrum• Benign tumors• Impacted earwax• Infection in the ear canal• Foreign body in the ear• Otosclerosis

What is the incidence of Hearing Loss?

According to the survey conducted by NSSO(2002), 291 persons per one Lakh have a hearing disability in India.

What is the impact of Hearing Loss on the functioning of the child?

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has organized them into these four categories:

• Speech/Language: Delays in the development of receptive and expressive language.

• Academics: Language difficulties and reduced hearing in the classroom can contribute to reduced academic achievement.

• Social functioning: Communication difficulties on the other hand, can lead to isolation and poor self-concept.

• Vocational choices: The above categories may a persons limit career path.

Do people with Hearing Loss talk?

In most of the persons with hearing loss, speechand language appear to have been impacted.

But biologically speech inadequacies are notlinked with hearing loss.

Thus, many persons with hearing loss are able tospeak. The clarity of speech depends on the ageat which hearing loss occurred.

What is Sign Language?

• Sign language is the mother tongue of many personswith hearing impairment.

• Sign language is a language which uses manualcommunication and body language to conveymeaning, as opposed to acoustically conveyed soundpatterns.

This can involve simultaneouslycombining certain standard handshapes, orientation and movement ofthe hands, arms or body, and facialexpressions, to fluidly express aspeaker's thoughts.

Sign Language is thus a language whereby the

mode of communication used for transferring

message is visual and manual.

“Manual” refers to Use of Arms, hands, fingers,

eyes, eyebrows, head, neck, whole body and its

overall impact.

WE MUST REMEMBER THAT:

Signs and gestures are not the same.

Signs are linguistic whereas Gestures

are non-linguistic.

Must Know Facts about Sign Language

• Sign language has grammar (rule system) like any other verbal language.

• There is no single Sign language in this world.

• A signer in India may not understand ASL ( American Sign Language or BSL ( British Sign Language) and vice versa.

• Like any other verbal language, Sign languages have regional varieties (dialects). Howevercommunication takes place in spite of regional variations.

More facts

• Sign languages are recognized as nationallanguages in many countries like the USA orSweden. On the other hand, there are manycountries wherein these languages are usedextensively but are not yet given the status ofnational languages, for example India.

• Sign Language is different from Signed Systemand Finger spelling

Indian Sign Language Alphabets

What are Hearing aids?

Hearing aids are sound-amplifying devicesdesigned to aid people who have a hearingloss.

What does a hearing aid do?

Most hearing aids share several similarelectronic components, including

• a microphone that picks up sound

• amplifier circuitry that makes the soundlouder

• a miniature loudspeaker (receiver) thatdelivers the amplified sound into the ear canal

• and batteries that power the electronic parts.

What does a hearing aid Not do?

Hearing aids DO NOT help a hearing impaired person to hear like a person without hearing impairment.

Some technological aids do individuals with hearing loss use?

Body-Level Hearing-Aid

Behind the Ear (BTE)

Hearing-Aid

In the Ear Hearing-Aid

What is a COCHLEAR IMPLANT

A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that

can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who isprofoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing.

The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind theear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the

skin.

Difference between a Hearing aid and Cochlear Implant

• A Cochlear Implant is very different from a Hearing aid.

• Hearing aids amplify sounds so they may be detected by damaged ears WHILE Cochlear implants bypasses damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve.

How does someone receive a Cochlear Implant

Use of a cochlear implant requires both a surgicalprocedure and significant therapy to learn orrelearn the sense of hearing. Since, not everyoneperforms at the same level with this device, Thedecision to receive an implant should involvediscussions with medical specialists, including anexperienced cochlear-implant surgeon.

What are some ways in which persons with hearing impairment communicate?

1.NON LINGUISTIC COMMUNICATION: body language, gestures, pictures and facial expressions can be included in this category.

2. SUPPORTIVE TO LINGUISTIC COMMUNICATION (Cannot be used independently): lip reading , finger spelling and cued speech can be included in this category.

3. LINGUISTIC BUT SECONDARY COMMUNICATION (Will come only after primary communication): reading/writing can be included in this category.

4. LINGUISTIC COMMUNICATION (A must have for all human beings): sign system and sign language can be included in this category.

What are some ways to achieve communicative reach?

• Sign Language Educational Bilingualism

• Oral Language/Oralism

• Sign System + Oral language (Total Communication)

Some Rules of Etiquette to Keep in Mind when Communicating with Persons with Hearing Disability

• Face the person you are talking to. Speak clearly andslowly. Do not exaggerate facial expressions.

• Do not begin a conversation with a hearing impairedperson until he or she has noticed you and is preparedfor it.

• Shouting to a person who is deaf does not help. Feelfree to use written notes.

• If the person uses sign language, remember to look athim or her when speaking, regardless of whether ornot an interpreter is present.

• Do not pretend to understand if you do not. Repeatwhat you understood and ask again.

We would like to thank

• Dr. Asmita Huddar, Principal of Hashu Advani College of Special Education for providing us with the necessary information and expertise to complete this presentation.

Our other sources were:

• Healthy Hearing (http://www.hearingloss.org/content/types-causes-and-treatment, http://www.healthyhearing.com/content/faqs/Hearing-loss/Test/41775-Degrees-of-hearing-loss)

• Hearing and speech centre (http://www.hearingspeech.org/main/care-treatment/concerns/hearing-loss-effects-on-child-development/)

• Hearing Loss Association of America(http://www.hearingloss.org/content/types-causes-and-treatment )

So break down the barriers of your mind and open doors to

new possibilities.