Tips for teachers & coaches

The classroom poses unique challenges for children with hearing loss and their teachers. If you have a child in your class with a hearing loss, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

• Before the school year begins, meet with the child’s parents to discuss special requirements. Plan also to meet with the child to establish a mutual comfort level, and assess academic and social skills and challenges.
• Have the child sit where he/she can best see and hear you. If the class is mostly lecture-oriented, the student needs to be close to you. If there is a lot of group discussion, the student should be seated in the middle.
• For outdoor activities, determine if the child will be using an assistive listening device to allow you to communicate more effectively with each other.
• Tell peers how they can help. Talk to the child and his/her parents to determine appropriate support roles for peers and teammates. Examples include taking turns assisting the student and sharing class notes.
• Writing out instructions on the blackboard helps ensure a clear understanding. Confirm that the child understands all assignments.
• Consider including a lesson on hearing and what hearing loss feels like. Include a show and tell from your student about hearing aids.