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DEAFNESS

Definition

According to Merriam-Webster, deafness refers to a “lack or [deficiency] in the sense of hearing” (“Deafness” n.d.).

 

Additional Information:

  • Deafness may refer to a partial or complete lack of hearing.

  • “A person who cannot detect sound at an amplitude of 20 decibels in a frequency range of from 800 to 1,800 vibrations per second is said to be hard of hearing” (“Deafness” 2017).

  • Deafness may be present at birth (congenital) or may develop at any time later in life.

  • “Approximately 10% of people worldwide experience some hearing difficulties. This amounts to approximately 28 million people in the USA alone” (“Deafness” 2016).

  • Many people in the Deaf community use American Sign Language (ASL) - a rich, beautiful, and expressive language - to communicate. 

 

Types of Deafness:

  1. Conductive Deafness – “Conductive problems are those that disrupt the conduction of sound through the outer and middle ear (see ear), affecting hearing before the sound reaches the cochlea and the nerve receptors of the inner ear. Disturbances of the conductive mechanism are often temporary or curable” (“Deafness” 2017).

  2. Sensorineural Deafness – “Sensorineural deafness results from damage to the neural receptors of the inner ear (the hair cells, organ of Corti), the nerve pathways to the brain (notably the auditory nerve), or the area of the brain that receives sound information. Deafness of this type is usually permanent” (“Deafness” 2017).

Instructional Strategies

Tips for the Classroom:

  1. Develop an understanding of hearing loss.

  2. Be able to troubleshoot associated technology students may use in the classroom.

  3. Familiarize yourself with the FM system (a transmitter microphone used by the teacher and a receiver/student).

  4. Supplement information given verbally with print text documents.

  5. If students do not have a hearing device or do not wear one, consider a specialized seating arrangement and ways to reduce auditory and visual distractions.

  6. Enunciate clearly.

  7. Consider safety concerns. For example, does the fire alarm have a pulsating light?

  8. Use a buddy system if beneficial.

  9. Use captioning for television, videos, etc.

  10. Check for understanding. (Johnson Martin, Williams and Gassen, n.d.)

Useful Websites and Resources

 Interested in learning more?

 Consider investigating the following:

  1. Modern Teaching Techniques for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students  

    1. This is a webpage published by Saint Joseph’s University. Here, the webpages’ editors provide some statistical information, a brief overview of deaf education, and some possible teaching techniques.
      Link: https://online.sju.edu/graduate/masters-special-education/resources/articles/modern-teaching-techniques-for-deaf-students

  2. Why Deaf Culture Matters in Deaf Education

    1. Authors Dan Hoffman and Jean F. Andrews discuss the importance of Deaf culture in society and the different ways in which Deaf culture is evolving. The authors also discuss interesting concepts such as “Languaculture [which] refers to the notion that language and culture are intertwined and are both needed for the Deaf child in forming his [or her] Deaf identity” (Hoffman and Andrews 2016).
      Link: http://ezproxy.lewisu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/
      login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=117911872&site=ehost-live&scope=site

  3. Finally! A Formula for Making Positive Changes in Deaf Education

    1. Leala Holcomb addresses issues of educational equity and aims to “promote…dialogue by exploring Deaf and hearing people's differing perspectives on the challenges to improving the quality of education for Deaf children” (Holcomb 2013). She also identifies the issues of Deaf education programs being ran by non-Deaf individuals who focus more on the disability instead of the rich language, culture, and wide variety of Deaf role models.
      Link: https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.lewisu.edu/docview/1826444871?pq-origsite=summon

  4. Educational Programs for Deaf Students –

    1. this document, published in 2017, contains a list of schools and programs in the United States that provide services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing. This document provides an interesting opportunity for reflection in relation to Deaf education and the ways in which education has expanded over the years in the United States.  

              Link: https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.lewisu.edu/docview/1917670499?pq-origsite=summon

1. This video was produced by students from the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. This video accompanies the following textbook: Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education (11th ed.) by William L. Heward with Sheila Alber-Morgan and Moira Konrad. Copyright 2017 by Pearson Education.

2. A doctoral student at Gallaudet University and current secondary teacher discusses autonomy in Deaf Education

3. LifeNoggin partners with a deaf woman to discuss what it’s like to be Deaf

Sources Consulted:

​

Deafness. (2017). In P. Lagasse, & Columbia University, The Columbia encyclopedia (7th ed.).
          New York, NY: Columbia University Press. Retrieved March 14 from
          http://ezproxy.lewisu.edu/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/
          columency/deafness/0?institutionId=6938

Deafness. (2016). In Helicon (Ed.), The Hutchinson unabridged encyclopedia with atlas and
          weather guide. Abington, UK: Helicon. Retrieved March 14, 2018 from   
          http://ezproxy.lewisu.edu/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/
          heliconhe/deafness/0?institutionId=6938

Deafness. (n.d.) In Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved March 14, 2018, from
          https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deafness
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR DEAF STUDENTS. (2017). American Annals of the
          Deaf, 162(2), 1-69. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.lewisu.edu/login?url=https://search-
          proquest-com.ezproxy.lewisu.edu/docview/1917670499?accountid=12073

Hoffman, D., & Andrews, J. F. (2016). Why deaf culture matters in deaf education. Journal of
          Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 21(4), 426-427. 10.1093/deafed/enw044
Holcomb, L. (2016). Finally! A formula for making positive changes in deaf
          education. American Annals of the Deaf, 161(3), 398-399. Retrieved from
          http://ezproxy.lewisu.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-
          com.ezproxy.lewisu.edu/docview/1826444871?accountid=12073

Johnson Martin, M., Williams, M. and Gassen, M. (n.d.). Classroom Accommodations for
          Students Who Are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing. file:///C:/Users/Staff/Downloads/Martin-
          Williams-Gassen.pdf
Modern Teaching Techniques for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students. (2017, December 05).
          Retrieved March 14, 2018, from https://online.sju.edu/graduate/masters-special-
          education/resources/articles/modern-teaching-techniques-for-deaf-students

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