Hearing Impairments: Developmental Consequences

Developmental Consequences

1. The major consequence of a hearing impairment on development is speech and language. 

2. Children who have a mild version of a hearing impairment do just as well academically as normal hearing children. 

 3.. The environment in almost all classrooms present problems for hard of hearing children, because the noise level ranges from 45 dB to 60dB. A teacher usually talks at 55-70dB. This means that the teacher talks at the same level as background noise. Therefore, children who are mild to moderate hard of hearing, have a hard time being able to hearing the teacher.This can "impair the listening performance of a young child" (Winzer). 

4. Ottismedia is a medical problem which causes temporary to chronic hearing loss. This causes children to "receive variable input rather than a consistent model of language."( Winzer). 

5. Problems with the ottismedia  can affect the development of auditory, processing skills, phonological approach/awareness, and memory skills. It also affects the auditory sequential memory skills. 

6. The effect of language delay is usually evident in grade 2 or 3. 

7.Children who are completely deaf are a lot further behind in academics than normal hearing children. They are usually 2-5 years behind.

8. Children who are completely deaf have a harder time with academics; especially communication. These children will have a very difficult time learning language. 

9. Children who are deaf will not be able to have "language models"; therefore they will have very little speech. 

10.. Sign language does present challenges. Using metaphors, or slang, are often taken literally. An example of this would be to say "shut the front door!" in an excited tone. A child with a hearing impairment may take this as to literally shut the front door.

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