BrittanyLee Mobert
EEX 5017
Deaf/Hard of Hearing
According to IDEA, deafness is defined as “a hearing impairment that is so severe that the child is impaired in
processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification.” Hearing impairments are
defined as “impairments in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a child’s
educational performance” (NICHCY, 2012).
Causes of Hearing Loss:
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Congenital Hearing Loss: Congenital hearing
loss is any loss of hearing that is present at the
time of birth.
o Genetic: Occurs when a gene from one
or both parents impacts the development
of the intricate hearing process. This can
affect the outer, middle, or inner ear and
have varying degrees of hearing loss.
o Prenatal: Factors such as in utero
infections, illness during pregnancy,
toxins consumed by the mother, or
cytomegalovirus may cause hearing loss
in the infant. Emergency procedures
used during delivery can also cause
hearing loss.
Acquired Hearing Loss: Acquired hearing loss
is any loss of hearing that develops after birth.
o Chronic ear infections (Also called otitis
media): Ear infections can cause
temporary hearing loss, however if left
untreated can have more permanent
effects.
o Ototoxic drugs: These are prescription
drugs usually prescribed to treat serious
illness such as meningitis. Side effects
can cause hearing loss.
o Diseases: Diseases such as meningitis,
mumps, Meniere’s disease, otosclerosis,
etc. can cause various levels of hearing
loss.
o Head trauma: Injuries (such as those
during sports) can have effects on
hearing.
o Perforated ear drum: Can be caused by
severe ear infection, head trauma, or
insertion of a foreign object. Often times
the eardrum will heal itself, leaving only
temporary hearing loss.
A look at the inside of the ear…
Hearing loss may occur if any part of the
hearing process is not functioning
properly.
Types of Hearing Loss
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Conductive: Sound waves are not able
to pass through the outer and/or middle
ear to the inner ear for processing.
Sensorineural: Caused by damage to
the tiny hairs within the cochlea in the
inner ear; sound is unable to be
converted into electrical signals for the
auditory nerve.
Mixed: A combination of conductive and
sensorineural hearing loss.
Neural: A result of damage to the
auditory nerve that connects the cochlea
to the brain.
Auditory Neuropathy: Sound enters
the ear normally, but the transmission
from the ear to the brain is impaired.
P.2
Characteristics of Individuals
with Hearing Loss

Delayed Language Development: If
hearing loss goes undetected throughout the
first months or years of life, the child’s
language acquisition begins later in life. “When
a child does not have normal hearing, they
struggle to learn every sound, every concept,
A child with congenital hearing loss and
an underdeveloped pinna.
every word, and every grammatical structure
of spoken language” (Hooper & Umansky,
2009, pp. 319).
Statistics on Hearing Loss
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17% of Americans will experience
some form of hearing loss in their
lifetime.
3 out of every 1,000 children born
in the U.S. are born deaf or hard of
hearing.
9 out of every 10 deaf children are
born to hearing parents.
1 out of every 5 people who could
benefit from a hearing aid actually
wear one.
Approximately 15% of American
age 20-69 experience hearing loss
due to loud sounds and noise from
work environments.
There is a strong relationship
between age and reported hearing
loss: 18 percent of American adults
45-64 years old, 30 percent of
adults 65-74 years old, and 47
percent of adults 75 years old or
older have a hearing loss.
Source: National Institute on Deafness and
Other Communication Disorders, 2012

Delayed grammar and syntax: Children
who are deaf or hard of hearing often learn
some form of sign language as their first
language. American Sign Language has a
sentence structure very different from English
making it difficult for these children to learn
how to read and write. Students also show
difficulty with grammar and syntax in English.

Trouble balancing: Congenital hearing
disorders related to the vestibular system can
cause difficulty balancing. If hearing loss goes
undetected, this can lead to delayed gross
motor skills.

Social Isolation: Deaf and hard of hearing
individuals are living in a hearing world. They
often miss auditory cues and conversations
casing difficulty when interacting with their
hearing peers. This can lead to isolation
(Cheour, 2012).
P. 3
Interventions for Children
with Mild, Moderate, and
Profound Hearing Loss
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Hearing Aids: Although there are several
different types of hearing aids, the behindthe-ear aids (shown to the right) are the
most recommended for children. A custom
ear mold is fitted with wires connected to
the aids placed behind the ear. Children
must frequently have their hearing aids
monitored and have new molds made
because their ears are growing quickly.
Cochlear Implant: A cochlear implant is
a technological device designed to
enhance the hearing of individuals who are
deaf. A small chip is surgically placed
behind the ear and the individual wears an
outer piece around the ear. Research
suggests that a cochlear implant can bring
a greater awareness and a broader range
of sounds for many deaf children in
comparison to traditional hearing aids. Use
of this device requires a rigorous preimplantation process, a surgery to implant
a portion of the device, an activation
process to program the externally worn
portion of the device called a speech
processor, participation in an auditory
habilitation program and involvement in an
educational program that uses and values
spoken language. Cochlear implants are
not available for all types of hearing loss.
American Sign Language (ASL): ASL is
a language using the hands and facial
expressions to convey communication. ASL
is not English, but its own language with a
very unique language structure.
Signed Exact English (SEE): This form
of sign language closely models the
English language structure. It shares some
signs with ASL, however there are many
differences (Laurent Clerc National Deaf
Education Center, 2012).
An infant wearing a hearing aid.
A child wearing a cochlear implant.
Deaf students at the McLean School of Maryland
using American Sign Language as their primary
form of communication.
P. 4
Still Curious?
Listed below are some websites that are useful for parents of deaf children,
educators working with a deaf child, or individuals wishing to learn more about
being deaf and the deaf culture.
 Clerc Center at Gallaudet University
http://www.gallaudet.edu/Clerc_Center/Information_and_Resources.html
This website is managed by Gallaudet University (a University catering to
deaf individuals) and provides extensive information about communication
technology and resources for new parents.
 Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing
http://www.agbell.org/
This website provides information for individuals wishing to learn more
about hearing loss as well as resources for parents and professionals.
References
Cheour, M. (2012, July 12). Characteristics of Hearing Impaired
Children. Retrieved from Livestrong:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/212414-characteristicsof-hearing-impaired-children/
Hooper, S., & Umansky, W. (2009). Young Children with Special
Needs. Upper Saddle River: Pearson.
Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center. (2012, July 12). Clerc
Center on Deafness. Retrieved from Gallaudet University:
http://www.gallaudet.edu/Clerc_Center/Information_and_R
esources/Info_to_Go.html
National Institute of Health. (2012, July 12). Quick Statistics.
Retrieved from National Institute on Deafness & Other
Communication Disorders:
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/Pages/quick.aspx
NICHCY. (2012, July 12). Deafness & Hearing Loss. Retrieved from
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities:
http://nichcy.org/disability/specific/hearingloss