The Facts

Hearing: the sense by which sound is perceived (Collins)

To Listen: to concentrate on hearing something

Hearing Loss: lessened or loss of hearing sensitivity caused by disease or damage to one or more parts of one or both ears

The definition of hearing loss is different for children than it is for adults. Adults who are post-lingually deafened (due to a later onset illness or the aging process) have knowledge of language and are therefore more adept at "filling in the blanks" when listening to spoken communication. Children depend on hearing to learn language, and will not develop spoken language skills if left in an unaided condition (without hearing aids or a cochlear implant).

Reminders about hearing loss:

• Hearing is not an "all or nothing" phenomenon 
  
• 94-96% people with hearing loss are functionally "hard of hearing" not "deaf" (Ross and Calvert, 1984)
  
• the overwhelming majority of 'deaf' people have residual hearing (and access to auditory information)
  

Facts about hearing loss

• 1/1000 babies are born with profound hearing impairment
  
• 1/10 children develop hearing problems at some time 
  
• 8 million children in North America have some degree of hearing loss 
  
• 92-94% of the population who have a hearing loss is functionally 'hard of hearing' not 'deaf' 
  
• it is probable that every teacher has had a child with a hearing loss in their classroom during their career
• children spend at least 45% of the school day engaged in listening activities

Indicators of hearing loss:

• gives inappropriate responses 
  
• has difficulty following directions
  
• has difficulty attending during oral presentation
  
• is impulsive
  
• frequently asks for repetition
  
• doesn't seem to listen; daydreams
  
• has poor self concept
  

Hearing loss is expressed in degrees:

• unilateral
• fluctuating
• Slight: 16-25 (expressed in decibels, dB)
• mild: 26-40
• moderate: 41-55
• moderate-to-severe: 56-70
• severe: 71-90
• profound: 91 ++

Acquired or congenital hearing loss

• acquired hearing loss usually occurs after some language has developed
  
• congenital hearing loss occurs prior to the acquisition of language
  
• congenital hearing loss makes it more difficult to learn spoken language than an acquired hearing loss