The federal regulations for students with hearing loss are long and complicated. Start with the federal reg for support services.
For a district, maintaining a record of checking the functioning of hearing aids or cochlear implants is extremely important. The functioning checks should be done by someone who is appropriately trained for this purpose.
A district with students who are hearing impaired is required to support the student’s access to the general curriculum. This may include the purchase of hearing aids, ear molds, sound field systems, or hiring interpreters. This must be done at no cost to the parents. However, the law does not state that these items have to be purchased with district funds..
Technology, hearing aids, cochlear implants have vastly changed the lives of people with hearing impairment. Unfortunately using this technology does not mean that students who are deaf have normal hearing. Students who use technology to hear still require support to access the general curriculum. Children who are deaf benefit from accommodations such as those detailed by Bright Hub.
Oklahoma provides small districts support through the Oklahoma School for the deaf in Sulphur. The outreach teacher will help with evaluations and IEPS, OSD also provides audiologist services. All of their services are provided at no cost to the districts.
After you have read the assigned selections on hearing impairment, create a spreadsheet showing how a district should support students with hearing loss.
Your headings should be: Action, Person (Position) Responsible, Timeline for Completion, citation.
The citation column should specify the authority you used to justify the action.
Literacy: https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/inclusive/ (Links to an external site.)
- IDEA Federal Regulations: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/regs/b/a/300.34 (Links to an external site.)
- IDEA Federal Regulations: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/regs/b/b/300.113 (Links to an external site.)
- Alternate Funding Sources for Hearing Aids: https://www.agbell.org/Learn/Hearing-Technology (Links to an external site.)
- Accommodations for Students who Have Hearing Impairment: https://www. (Links to an external site.)brighthubeducation.com/special-ed-hearing-impairments/67528-tips-and-strategies-for-teaching-hearing-impaired-students/#classroom-adaptations (Links to an external site.)
- From the 2017 Oklahoma Handbook: (This link will take you to the handbook. Information on HI is on page 83.) https://sde.ok.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Oklahoma%20Special%20Education%20Handbook%20%28live%29.pdf