Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Obstacles for Students Hard of Hearing

As I embark on the 2nd module I will continue to reflect and revisit the UDL framework as I continue my journey through assistive technology in communication and computer access. 

Individuals who are hard of hearing face many obstacles in a typical classroom that can impede on their learning and be discouraging. These students may struggle to follow oral lectures, have a hard time when the teacher turns their back if the student is lip reading, and experience difficulty with class discussions or video presentations.

There are many things ranging in complexity a teacher can do to alleviate some of these obstacles in the classroom. A teacher may have the student sit in the front, be mindful a student is lipreading and not turn their back, and use subtitles when possible during discussions. "For people who cannot hear speech or people who cannot express themselves through speech, technology offers an exciting range of solutions"(Dell et al. 2012).

Communication should be something UDL principles are applied to to make  the most accessible for all students. With advancements in technology this is made more feasible for individuals who are hard of hearing. Cochlear implants can be a viable option, and are miniature electronic devices surgically placed in the inner ear to improve useful hearing. 


















 Resource Below
  
Dell, A., Newtown, D., & Petroff, J. (2012). Assistive Technology in the Classroom. Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson Education Inc. 


Picture found at
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/farre212/f11psy1001ds1415/Cochlear%20Implant.jpg
         


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