Hearing impairment is the decreased ability to hear and discriminate among sounds. It is one of the most common birth defects. Each year in the United States, about 12,000 babies (3 in 1,000) are born with significant hearing impairment. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Program. May 9, 2007 ).

1. Born with a Hearing Loss

2. Hearing Impairment
Hearing impairment is the decreased ability to hear and discriminate among
sounds. It is one of the most common birth defects. Each year in the United
States, about 12,000 babies (3 in 1,000) are born with significant hearing
impairment. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Early Hearing
Detection & Intervention Program. May 9, 2007 ).

3. Infant Screening
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all
babies be screened for hearing impairment before 1 month of age, preferably
before they leave the hospital.
This is because language and communication develop rapidly during the first
two to three years of life, and undetected hearing impairment can lead to
delays in developing these skills. Without newborn screening, children with
hearing impairment usually are not diagnosed until 2 to 3 years of age.

4. What are some signs of hearing impairment
in infants and young children?
Failure to startle at loud sounds
Not turning toward the sound of a voice or imitating sounds after about 6
months of age
Lack of babbling at 9 months of age
Not using single words by 18 months of age
Using gestures instead of words to express needs

5. How are newborns screened for hearing impairment?
Newborns are screened for hearing impairment with one of two tests. Both tests
measure how a baby responds to sound. The tests take five to 10 minutes, are painless
and can be done when the baby is sleeping.
In the otoacoustic emissions (OAE) test, a small microphone is placed in the
baby's ear. The microphone, connected to a computer, sends soft clicking
sounds or tones into the ear and records the inner ear's response to sound.
In the automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) test, soft clicking
sounds are presented to the ear through small earphones. Sensors placed on
the head and connected to a computer measure brain wave activity in response
to sound.

6. Parents should be concerned about hearing
impairment in older children if they:
Develop vocabulary more slowly than their peers
Have speech that is difficult to understand or that is too loud or too soft
Often ask for words to be repeated
Turn on the TV too loud
Appear inattentive at school and have difficulties learning to read or perform
simple mathematics.

7. Types of Hearing Loss
Sensorineural
Conductive
Mixed

8. Severity of Hearing Loss
(in terms of decibel loss)
mild = 25-40 dB
moderate = 41-70 dB
severe = 71-90 dB
profound = >90 dB

9. Welcoming Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Children
Many techniques that early childhood/ child care professionals use to
introduce any new child can be used to integrate a deaf or hard-of-hearing child
into the group.
Ask parents to send in photos of family members friends or pets and names of
each.
Try to have consistency for the first few days to help student adjust to the new
class. Having an adult greet the child in his/her familiar language each day will
be comforting.

10. Modifying Early Childhood Activities
(Circle Time)
During Circle Time deaf or hard of hearing children need
A clear view of the speaker’s mouth
To know they can move if they need to see better
To have one person speaking at a time
Messages repeated with appropriate facial expressions
Messages demonstrated or acted out

11. Modifying Early Childhood Activities
(Story Time)
During Story Time when reading to deaf children, the biggest concern is how to hold the
book to show the children the picture and sign the words at the same time.
Put the book on a stand or easel.
This will allow the reader to read and sign at the same time.
Have one person tell a commonly known story without a book.
This is a good time to teach sign language. Use some signs without voice and see if the
children understand.

12. Small Group Activities
Working in small groups facilitates communication and participation in hearing,
deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
First the teacher may have to demonstrate or show the deaf or hard-of-hearing
child how to do an activity, and then point out relevant words or signs associated
with activity.
Prompting and modeling the socially acceptable behavior and communications
between children during small group will encourage positive interactions between
the children.

13. Pretend Play and Drama
Pretend play and drama are great ways for children to internalize what it means
to have a hearing loss or hearing.
Encouraging interactions between the deaf/hard-of-hearing and hearing
children.”
“Children often use imaginative play spontaneously to work out concepts they
need to understand.”

14. REFERENCE
https://www.hearingsol.com/help/hearing-loss/born-deaf/
https://www.hearingsol.com/