Chapter06 allen7e

©2012 Cengage Learning.
All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 6
Sensory Impairments: Hearing and
Vision

Deafness and Hearing Loss
• Deafness refers to a hearing loss so
severe that the individual cannot process
spoken language even with amplification
devices.
• Hard of hearing refers to a lesser loss,
but one that nevertheless has a definite
effect on social, cognitive, and language
development.

Deafness and Hearing Loss (continued)
• Types of hearing loss
– Conductive hearing loss
• A loss in the outer or middle ear
– Sensorineural hearing loss
• A loss in the inner ear (cochlea)
– Central deafness
• A loss in the higher auditory cortex
– Combined loss
• A loss in two or more of the above

• Causes and prevention
– Conductive hearing loss can occur from
frequent ear infections.
• It can usually be aided by amplification systems.
– Sensorineural hearing loss and central
deafness are caused by malformation of the
ear or severe infections.
• A cochlear implant may be needed.

• Warning signs
– Tugs on ears
– Used to talk and respond and now does not
– Drops initial consonants
– Seems inattentive
– Looks confused when given directions
– Turns head to one side to hear better

• The impact of hearing loss on
development
– Effect on language development
• A child who cannot hear sounds during the critical
period may never master those sounds.
• Language delays are probable.
• Parents and caregivers may stop speaking to the
child, because he or she cannot hear them.

– Effect on cognitive development
• Language and cognitive skills go hand in hand.
• If children are behind in language skills, they are
more than likely going to be delayed cognitively as
well.
• Children with little or no hearing tend to be years
behind their normally developing peers.

– Effect on social development
• Shy and withdrawn categorize this child.
• These children tend to be socially immature.
• They also tend to be impulsive and hyperactive.
• Unintentionally, they are often left out, because
hearing is so much a part of our world.

– Effects on family life
• Frustration
• Lack of time to learn new methods
• Need for behavior management
• Family therapy and counseling

• Methods of communication
– Speech reading—child learns to read your lips
while you talk
– Cued speech—a system of hand shapes and
mouth movements in which the child learns
the combinations to understand the spoken
word

– American Sign Language—a language that
consists of hand movements with or without
speaking
• Signed English
• Finger spelling
– Total communication—combines speech and
hand motions

• Which method?
– It is family preference.
– No one method has been proven to be the
best.
– Total communication leads to more
communication with the outside world.

• Early intervention
– As with all disabilities: The earlier intervention
is begun, the better.
– Children need to learn to use what residual
hearing they have.
– They need to exercise their vocal chords for
speech.

• Guidelines for teachers
– Get down on the child’s level.
– Sit close to the child when talking.
– Make eye contact.
– Use short, simple sentences.
– Use concrete examples.

• Amplification devices
– Hearing aids—an amplification device is
molded to fit the child’s ear.
• Problems: bad fit, dead batteries, feedback, on and
off switch, sore ears
– FM system—child wears a receiver and the
teacher wears the microphone.
• Problems: dead batteries, on and off switch

Blindness and Vision Impairments
• Blind—visual loss is severe enough that it
is not possible to read print.
• Low vision—residual vision is sufficient to
allow a child to read large print or possibly
regular print under special conditions and
to use other visual materials for
educational purposes.

(continued)
• Total blindness is the inability to
distinguish between light and dark.
• Most children can see some light and
shadows.

(continued)
• Types of vision problems
– Physical abnormalities
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Retinopathy of prematurity
• Cortical blindness

(continued)
– Visual acuity problems
• Refractive errors
• Astigmatism
• Myopia
• Hyperopia

(continued)
– Muscular abnormalities
• Strabismus
• Amblyopia
• Nystygmus

(continued)
• Identifying vision problems
– This is rather difficult until a child is in school.
– A few tests are available for the younger child
• Snellen Illiterate E
• Teller Acuity Cards
• Photo Screening
– Children often do not know they have a
problem, because they do not know what they
are looking at.

(continued)
– Warning signs
• Rubbing eyes
• Closes one eye
• Watery or itchy eyes, not allergy related
• Inability to see, squinting
• Blurred vision

(continued)
• The impact of vision problems on
development
– Effects on language development
• Child cannot see objects, so they have trouble
learning the meaning of the spoken word.
• Children must be given time to explore concrete
objects to learn meaning.
• Teacher must develop the use of descriptors.

(continued)
– Effect on cognitive development
• Delays due to language development problems
• Usually catch up by six years of age
– Effect on motor development
• Children will be delayed because they cannot see
objects to reach for them.
• Children are also afraid to move because they
cannot see what is in front of them.

(continued)
– Effect on social development
• The children tend to be quiet and passive.
• They do not make facial expressions when people
talk to them.
• Often they do not even turn toward the sound.

(continued)
• Early intervention programs
– Orientation and mobility training
• This is a must.
• It exposes the children to their environment.
• If things are not moved often, the children can
learn independence at play and cleanup.

(continued)
• Teaching children with vision loss
– Take advantage of their other senses
– Concrete objects
– Descriptions of objects
– Rich vocabulary

(continued)
• Guidelines for teachers
– Use words for everything.
– Be specific.
– Let the children discover through touch.
– Put different textured fabric at each center,
identifying the boundaries.
– Make use of their residual vision:
• Write words extra large and in bold colors.

Chapter06 allen7e

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