Hearing Impairment
When an individual is unable to hear sounds through the ear or has difficulty hearing others nearby. These students who may be suffering can find help in using assistive technology tools in either low, mid, or high technology fields to suit their interests! These tools can provide students with efficiacy, accessible features to use them, and even some can be portable. Teachers and Parents can find this site helpful for there are many tools that each have a purpose in assisting those who face hearing difficulties. Listed below is a great website, The Hearing Helath Foundation, that has a list of great article that can help those questioning what hearing loss is. It also provides relevant information to the topics in hearing loss.
Low Technology Devices
Paper and pencil:
Enables the user to communicate freely through writing on paper. Students who have low hearing abilities may find this easy to use if they do not need to use sign language in order to communicate with others. |
Whiteboards:
Can be used for showing work or writing messages between classmates, to family, friends, and even teachers. The great thing about these whiteboards are that they are accessible in the classroom and can be taken to and from the home. They are lightweight which make it easier for the student to handle using them when need be. |
Mid-Technology Devices
Personal Listening Devices:
This is a useful device that can aid students who need the sound to be amplified directly into their ear. The earphones are helpful for students who may rely on the sound in order to hear. There are many different kinds of listening devices for those who are hearing impaired. Each one has its own features where the user can see the time, adjust the sound, will be able to manage using it, and can get either headphones or earbuds depending on the individuals choice. |
Infrared Amplification System:
This is a lightweight microphone that can be used in the classroom in order for students to hear a person's voice loud and clearly. Mini speakers are placed within the room . The microphone can be easily fitted around the neck of the speaker. Students with low hearing can use in the classroom in order to hear themselves better. Another great thing about this tool is that teachers can use it in order to help amplify the sound of their voice in the classroom! |
High Technology Devices
CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) Service:
These services can be offerred worldwide for those who are hearing impaired. It is useful because it transcribes speech to text for individuals. Listed above in the picture are some of the many places it can be used where captions are placed at the bottom to be read. |
Cochlear Impant:
Device that is implanted in the ear to assist in helping the student who is at a high degree of hearing loss to hear sounds that are directly transmitted to their ear. |