Lincoln School Department's Student Services Office

Supporting Students with Hearing Difficulties

The following support strategies are meant to assist students who have listening or hearing problems.

1. Seating

Arrange preferential seating for the student;

• typically, the student should be seated 1/3 the distance from the teacher, NOT in the front row directly beneath the teacher.
• seat the student away from noisy areas, such as away from a window, door or corridor noise.
• the student should also be seated with the better ear directed appropriately.
• Supporting Students with Central Auditory Processing Disorder.

2. Visual Supplements

Since students with hearing impairments need to supplement oral information with visual input;

• Provide visual cues and written material to support oral information.
• Indicate when other students in the class are talking by calling their name or pointing to the student when called upon to participate or answer questions.
• Many students with hearing impairments speech read, therefore it is necessary for the following to occur:
  • Ensure good lighting on your face. Strong lighting (i.e. a window) behind the speaker makes speech reading difficult.
  • Speak clearly with good pronunciation.
  • Make sure your lips are clearly visible. Face the class, not the blackboard, when speaking.
  • Try to remain in one area while talking.

3. Instructional Strategies

while teaching it may be neccessary for certain modifications and accomodations to occur;

• Ensure that you have the student's attention before you start addressing the class or beginning new material.
• Check to see if the student has heard and understood instructions. Call on other students as well in order to avoid calling attention to the same student.
• Restate information given over the PA system.
• Rephrase idioms, slang, and sarcasm if it appears the student does not understand.
• Assign a classroom buddy to help clarify information.
• Have the student read ahead. Preparation on a particular topic will allow the student to "tune into" the discussion.

4. Technology

If a student has a hearing aid, or an FM system, the equipment should be both visually and acoustically evaluated on a daily basis.