Hearing loss and deafness
Hearing loss can be mild, moderate, severe or profound. Conductive loss is caused by a blockage in or damage to the outer, and/or middle ear. Sensorineural loss results from damage to or malfunction of the cochlea or auditory nerve. A mixed hearing loss is due to a combination of conductive and sensorineural damage.
As well as level of severity, crucial issues are when the loss occurs and when the diagnosis is made and intervention begins. Many prelingually deaf people cannot comprehend spoken English and communicate most effectively with Auslan (Australian Sign Language). Prelingually deaf people generally see themselves as belonging to the deaf community, which may or may not be the case for those whose loss occurs later.
A distinction can be made between people who are deaf and those who are hard of hearing. The term “deaf” applies to people who have a prelingual severe to profound hearing loss. “Hard of hearing” applies to people who have a mild or moderate loss or a severe loss which occurs later in life. An important consideration when working with deaf students is that they may have low literacy levels. This is due, in part, to English being a second language.
