A hearing loss may impact on students’ ability to:
- produce speech sounds
- hear and understand language
- produce oral language
- acquire and use background knowledge across a range of topics
- access information presented in the classroom
- understand new concepts – particularly language-based concepts
- interact with others
The student may often be more comfortable in a small group or one-to-one situation. This will impact on each student differently at different stages. The student may have additional difficulties in intellect or mobility, or may have a diagnosis in another disability area.
A student with a hearing impairment will learn key concepts from the curriculum, and develop the skills to apply these. Some students with a hearing impairment may exceed year level expectations in subject areas of interest, but then have fewer skills in other areas.
Adjustments in planning
- Plan with other team members (speech language pathologist, advisory visiting
teachers, special education staff, year level teams, subject area teams) to
incorporate priorities for the deaf/hearing impaired student. - Consider interactions between students and other members of the school
community. - Consider the structure and organisation of the school (e.g. timetable, behaviour
management policy). - Consider the selection and use of curriculum materials (e.g. worksheets, videotapes,
sport equipment). - Consider the classroom setting (e.g. open-area, single classroom).
- Consider settings inside and outside the classroom (e.g. lunch, physical education
activities, work experience). - Consider extra-curricula activities (e.g. religious education, sports days, school
band). - Consider specific needs in KLAs/subjects.
- Use the IEP (Individual Education Plan) to prioritise the adjustments needed for the
student to access the curriculum. - Allow time for the development of language and listening skills in the classroom
context. - Use routines and structures to support students to predict what will come next in the
program.
Adjustments in teaching
- Pre-teach specific language and concepts required to ensure the student has the
required prior knowledge for the activity. - Gain the student’s attention before you give instructions.
- Ensure that you are clearly visible to the student at all times.
- Keep your hands and other objects away from your face while speaking.
- Use normal clear speech. Do not exaggerate your speech.
- Avoid speaking while facing the blackboard.
- Avoid moving around the classroom while speaking.
- Communicate clearly. Repeat and rephrase when necessary. Emphasise key words.
- Use a focusing phrase e.g. “listen to this question”.
- Check for understanding by asking the student to tell you what they need to do or
repeat what they heard. - Use buddies to help relay and rephrase information.
- Give students time to look at visual aids before talking to the aid so that the student
with a hearing impairment has time to shift their attention from the visual to the
auditory. - Use visual aids such as word webs and semantic maps and concrete examples to
illustrate the links between information. - Provide an outline of what is to be learnt, focus on key concepts and opportunities to
practise and demonstrate competence in a number of ways. - Increase opportunities to practise new skills and concepts – teaching a younger child;
demonstrating to other adults in the school; practising on the computer with a peer. - Utilise available human resources – peer tutoring, teacher aides, special educators,
therapy services, interpreters, notetakers. - Encourage class members to use sign language with the student if needed.
- Teach routines, expectations of behaviour and consequences explicitly.
- Display routines visually using timetables or calendars of upcoming events.
- Explain sudden changes of routine so students know what is going on around them.
Adjustments in assessment
- Identify barriers in assessment that may prevent the deaf/hearing impaired student
from demonstrating their knowledge and skills or competence. - Consider the provision of special arrangements and/or exemptions.
- Change the nature of the task (e.g. requiring the student to demonstrate skills rather
than write an explanation of them). - Alter the procedures of a task (e.g. allowing the student to listen to a live presenter
instead of listening to an audiotape, allowing the student to sign an oral presentation. - Provide specialised equipment (e.g. allowing the student to use a TTY, captioned
videotape, FM system). - Vary the conditions for a task (e.g. providing the student with extra time or alternative
seating arrangements). - Revise the language used within a task, if appropriate (e.g.rewording a worksheet or
assessment task so a student can understand it clearly). - Revise the language expected in student responses (e.g. focusing on the content
students give in response rather than vocabulary and grammatical structures used). - Consider the practical arrangements relating to the assessment.
- Consider the venue (e.g. Do the acoustics and visual conditions provide optimal
opportunities for the student? Does the student need a separate venue?). - Plan seating arrangements (e.g. does the student need to sit close to the front to see
and hear the presenter clearly?). - Consider the delivery of instructions or task (e.g. Does the student require spoken
directions to be signed? Does the student need a live presenter or written script to
access an audiotape. - Provide extra time (e.g. how much extra time does the student require to overcome
language barriers?).
Adjustments in environment
- Be aware of the effect of environmental noise on a deaf/hearing impaired student.
- Minimise environmental noise by using curtains or pictures on windows, book bags
on chairs, carpets, felt or rubber tips on the legs of chairs, hanging mobiles of
students work. - Install a Soundfield Amplification System (SAS) to cut down background noise in the
classroom. - Avoid glare or light behind you – don’t stand in front of windows to speak to the
student.
Adjustments in resources
- Use assistive technology such as an FM system, Soundfield Amplification Systems
as required. - Use pictorial programs or sign-based web-sites to create a range of resources from
instructions to readers. - Utilise peers, volunteers, teaching teams and specialists.
- Borrow resources, materials from the Advisory Visiting Teacher or a nearby Special
Education facility.
From Education Queensland
Download a printable version of the fact sheet: For teachers – Adjustments for students with a hearing impairment FACT SHEET