Hard-of-Hearing Conditions Lecture Set 15 PDF

HARD-OF-HEARING CONDITIONS Terms ■ Hearing Impairment – Indicates the presence of a hearing disability that can range in severity from mild to profound ■ Complete hearing loss – Cannot process auditory information at all (non-functional) ■ Hard of Hearing – Residual hearing enables processing of a...

HARD-OF-HEARING CONDITIONS Terms ■ Hearing Impairment – Indicates the presence of a hearing disability that can range in severity from mild to profound ■ Complete hearing loss – Cannot process auditory information at all (non-functional) ■ Hard of Hearing – Residual hearing enables processing of auditory information with or without a hearing aid (functional hearing) Measuring Hearing Loss Three (3) attributes of sound: ■ Intensity (dB) – Loudness and Softness – Point of first audible sound is 0 dB. – Normal speech 10 feet away is 45 to 65 dB. – Train passing at 10 feet away is about 90 – 120 dB § Anything over 100dB can be harmful and painful Measuring Hearing Loss Three (3) attributes of sound: ■ Frequency (pitch) – Frequency of sound waves and is measured in hertz (Hz) – Some hearing impairments involve only certain frequencies ■ E.g. – Older individuals commonly have difficulty with high frequency sounds such as the letters, s, z, j, g, p, b, t, d, f, v, h as well as sounds such as ch, sh, th Measuring Hearing Loss Three (3) attributes of sound: ■ Resonance (Timbre) – Sound qualities (other than intensity and frequency) – Enable us to distinguish between sounds (music) and voices – Individuals with deficits in this area are known as tone deaf Measuring Hearing Loss ■ Losses expressed in dB – Higher number = Greater loss – Range from slight (35-40 dB) to profound (90 dB+) – Putting your fingers in your ear canal creates about a 25 dB conductive hearing loss How Does Our Hearing Work? ■ Sound waves are vibrations ■ Vibrations pass through the outer ear to the middle ear – Here, three (3) structures transfer the soundwaves (vibrations) to inner ear – Convert waves into neural information that passes along auditory nerve to our brain where we make sense of it One More Time… ■ Ear is comprised of three parts that work together to transmit sound waves ■ Sound waves enter the outer ear – Are conducted into the middle ear – And are translated into neural impulses in the inner ear – Specialized cells in the inner ear transmit the sound messages to the brain for processing. Sensory Impairments – Deaf and Hard of Hearing _________________________________________________________________ Classifications (relates to location of difficulty) Degree of Loss Loss (dB) Difficulty with: Slight 25 - 40 Whispered speech Mild 41 - 54 Normal speech at a distance of 3 to 5 feet Moderate 55 - 69 Understanding loud or shouted speech at close range; group discussions Severe 70* - 89 Understanding speech at close range, even when amplified Profound 90+ Hearing most sounds, including telephone rings and musical instruments *70 dB is accepted criterion of distinguishing heard of hearing & complete loss How Loud is Too Loud? dB Whispered Voice Refrigerator hum Normal conversation Lawn mower, motorcycle Movies Chainsaw Firecrackers; concerts 20 40 60 90 100 110 140 Documentary ■ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWuHhvg-0mw Sensory Impairments –Hard of Hearing Conductive Hearing Loss ■ Affects outer and/or middle ear ■ Disorders of external ear – Centre around the size and shape of the ear canal – Obstruction (wax), Injury, Infection ■ Disorders of middle ear – ossicles, eustachian tube, otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear - most prevalent conductive disorder; 75-95% children at risk due to repeated ear infections) Sensory Impairments –Hard of Hearing Sensorineural Hearing Loss ■ Affects inner ear or auditory nerve – Caused by damage to the cells and nerve fibers that transmit and receive sound – Not only reduces sound but causes distortions in residual hearing as well – Less likely to be improved by medical treatment – Sensorineural hearing loss and balance deficits sometimes occur together Sensory Impairments – Hard of Hearing Mixed Loss and Tinnitus ■ Combined conductive and sensorineural hearing loss ■ Tinnitus is sound sensation in one or both ears ■ Whistling, hissing, buzzing, throbbing, whining Sensory Impairments –Hard of Hearing Hearing loss… ■ Autosomal recessive genes, bacterial and viral infections, idiopathic, maternal illness ■ Noise! (recreation, occupation) ■ Age Incidence ■ ■ ■ ■ 1:25 Canadians have impaired hearing (1991) 3.1 million some degree of hearing loss Not spread evenly through the population Hearing Aids… – Amplify ALL sounds – Quiet, structured environment Considerations for Physical Activity ■ Research shows lower motor performance – Lack of opportunity or practice – Language delay and self-concept may be an issue ■ May be balance problems (vestibular damage) ■ Communication barriers may limit experiences Considerations for Physical Activity Communication: ■ Oral – Speech reading/lip reading, amplification of residual hearing ■ Sign language, finger spelling – Bimodal or total communication ■ ASL – Most accepted method of communication Considerations & Recommendations ■ Learn some basic signs ■ If activity is instructional make sure person is close to see face ■ Speak clearly and slowly – Don’t overemphasize words ■ Short sentences are easier to read the long ones Considerations & Recommendations ■ Repeat if necessary (using same words) & paraphrase if person still doesn’t understand ■ Empty your mouth (no gum) ■ Minimize background noise ■ Use visual aids for rules, strategies, what to do, etc.