DISCLAIMER

It is critical to know and understand that although hearing assistive technology (hearing aids, cochlear implants, etc..)  can be helpful. It DOES NOT make you or your child hearing, nor does it ensure complete access to auditory based languages (e.g. Spoken English). 

Full Credit goes to @Blakelyn_Leigh on TikTok - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRkaAP5Y

Is this you (or your child)?

Do you Smile?  Nod?  Watch carefully and see laughter so you pretend to laugh. Make guesses to what people are saying? Use scripts to make educated guesses? Don't settle for less than equal access to  hearing peers. I mean hearing people do this too, but not as often. It is EXTREMELY important that your education is as close to 100% as possible! 

Really, anything less than equal access (to everyone else) isn't good enough.  Don't settle for less than everything. P.S. Don't assume that a mild hearing level means it's a mild impact...

You need to know that Even a "mild" hearing level can have a huge impact.

WATCH THIS VIDEO! It's worth it (and only about 5 minutes) - Mild hearing loss even with a hearing aid, is NOT the same as normal hearing. 

Do you actually understand?

How much do you hear?.webm

It's important that you can understand everything that's happening around you! What you're friends/peers are saying, as well as what your teacher is saying (really that applies to anyone you want to have a conversation with). 

Do you use a mic or direct input? Do you use an interpreter or cued language transliterator? captioning? How are you making sure you have access to everything with the least amount of effort required. What accommodations do you use? 

Before we dig into Self-Advocacy, we need to dive deeper into what you can or can't hear and what that means. 

How does the Ear Work?

Do you (or does your child) struggle hearing?

Perhaps it's difficult to hear when there is music in the background? Perhaps it's difficult to hear from across the room. You may even find it's difficult to hear when you can't see the person talking. OR perhaps you've known since birth that you have a hearing threshold that doesn't land in the expected zone during testing. If you haven't make an appointment with an ENT or Audiologist (a pediatric audiologist is best for a child). If you're in Indiana, USA here is a list of Audiologists that should be able to help. 

Once you've been to the audiologist, ask for a copy of your audiogram and come back here to figure out what it means. If you're hearing levels fall in the "normal" range and you're still struggling to hear, please reach out to someone that specializes in Auditory Processing Disorders, like Dr. Rae Stout. There is more to 'hearing' information, it's also about how the brain processes that information. 

If you already have a diagnosed hearing loss and don't receive services from a Teacher of the Deaf/ School, PLEASE contact the school system and request an evaluation (in writing ASAP)

What is an Audiogram?

An audiogram is a document that shows how loud a sound needs to be in order for you to access that sound. It does NOT indicate the clarity of the sound or the brains ability to process that sound. 

An audiogram with visuals to show sounds so we can model what is heard with different types of hearing losses for parents and/or students.

For more information about each hearing level explore the embedded links. Click on the picture (or text below) for information on how each level of hearing impacts your access. 

hearing is not equal to understanding