Tips for Teachers

The classroom poses unique challenges for children with hearing loss -- and their teachers. If you have a child in your class with a hearing loss, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

• Before the school year begins, meet with the child’s parents to discuss special requirements. Plan also to meet with the child to establish a mutual comfort level and assess academic and social skills and challenges.
• Create a classroom that can optimize the listening environment. Hearing aids work best in quiet settings within close range of the speaker. Have the child sit where he or she can best see and hear you. With young children in small groups a semi-circle, with the child closer to one end where he or she can see all faces, works well. If the class is mostly lecture-oriented, the student needs to be close to you. If there is a lot of group discussion the student should be seated in the middle.
• Putting pads on chair, desk and table legs helps reduce background noise, which can be extremely difficult for a child with hearing loss. Carpeting is also helpful. Loud heating and ventilation systems can be detrimental. Natural lighting is best for speech reading.
• Enlist the assistance of other professionals within the school system, such as a teacher for those with hearing impairments, educational audiologist, oral interpreter, tutor or speech therapist: parents should be involved in decisions to enlist other professionals.
• Try not to speak with your back turned to the student. People with hearing loss can’t speech read if they can’t see your lips. For the same reason, keep papers and hands away from your face and hair and avoid chewing gum. Avoid wearing dark glasses as this prevents your student from seeing where you are looking and your facial expressions.
• Listening to instructions can be challenging. Writing out instructions on the blackboard helps ensure a clear understanding. Outline the day’s work as well as by activity. Confirm that the child understands all assignments.
• Young children are naturally empathetic. Include a lesson on hearing and hearing loss. This could even include a demonstration of what hearing loss feels like and a show and tell from your student about hearing aids. Prior to the lesson, make sure your student is comfortable with this approach and discuss with parents the language used at home to describe hearing loss.
• Tell students how they can help. Talk to the child and his or her parents to determine appropriate support roles for classmates. Examples include taking turns assisting the student and sharing class notes.
• Be aware that children with hearing loss may be easily frustrated if they are not keeping up with the rest of the class. They may feel inadequate and hesitate to participate with other students. Try to foster an environment that helps the child feel he or she is a valuable part of your class.
• Be sure that you understand how the child's hearing aid functions, so you can assist if problems arise. Ask parents for a supply of extra batteries to keep in your desk.
• If you are wearing a lapel microphone, do not place books or papers over it.

Classroom Exercise: What Hearing Loss Sounds Like

One of the most effective ways to demonstrate what hearing loss is like is to wear earplugs. It is important to insert the earplugs correctly. Roll the earplugs between your fingers to compress the foam. When the foam is about half its original size, insert the plugs into your ear canal and let the foam expand. You will still hear sound but it should be muffled. Ask the children to leave the earplugs in for a few hours, through situations such as lunch (unless they are walking home for lunch which could be dangerous), watching television or listening to class discussions. After the experiment, ask them what they found the most difficult.