HEARING LOSS AND THE AFFECTS on Academic Achievement

Students identified as having a hearing loss would be students that have “loss of hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a child’s education performance” (Heward et al., 2017, p. 293). The student’s hearing loss affects their academic achievement but not their intelligence and the reason why early intervention is key to student success.
According to Heward et al., 2017:
         Students who are deaf and hard of hearing continue to lag behind their general education peers in academic achievement (Qi & Mitchell, 2012; Shaver, Newman, Huang, Yu, & Knokey, 2011). Most children with hearing loss have difficulty with all areas of academic achievement, especially reading and math (Pagliaro & Kritzer, 2013). Studies of the academic achievement of students with hearing loss have routinely found them to lag far behind their hearing peers, and the gap in achievement between children with normal hearing and those with hearing loss usually widens as they get older (ASHA, 2015c). Academic performance must not be equated with intelligence. Deafness imposes no limitations on the cognitive capabilities of individuals, and some deaf students read very well and excel academically (Karchmer & Mitchell, 2011; Williams & Finnegan, 2003). The problems that deaf students often experience in education and adjustment are largely attributable to inadequate development of a first language as well as the mismatch between the demands of spoken and written English and the students’ ability to understand and communicate in English (p. 296).
          Student with a hearing loss do not have lower intelligence their academic set backs are caused by their disability. According to ASHA, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, “the earlier hearing loss occurs in a child's life, the more serious the effects on the child's development. Similarly, the earlier the problem is identified and intervention begun, the less serious the ultimate impact” (ASHA, n.d.). ASHA listed these four major ways hearing loss affects children:

1. It causes delay in the development of receptive and expressive communication skills (speech and language).
2. The language deficit causes learning problems that result in reduced academic achievement.
3. Communication difficulties often lead to social isolation and poor self-concept.
4. It may have an impact on vocational choices (ASHA, n.d.).

"The most important thing you can do is to have your child's hearing tested. With early help, your child may speak or use sign language as well as children who hear" (ASHA, n.d.).The hearing loss does not affect the students intellect but it does affect their academic achievement and the reason why early intervention is key to the students success.
References:
Effects of Hearing Loss on Development. (n.d.). Retrieved June 7, 2020, from https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Effects-of-Hearing-Loss-on-Development/
Heward, W., Alber-Morgan, S., & Konrad, M. (2017). Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education (11th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
finehearing, P. by. (2018, November 21). Fine Hearing Care. Retrieved June 7, 2020, from https://www.finehearingcare.com/2018/11/21/hearing-loss-effects-more-than-just-the-elderly/