Peer's Perspective on Hearing Loss
Ideas for Peer Interactions and Group Work (http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/inmdict/html/hearing_loss.html and http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/hearimpair/tip16.htm)
- Be aware of student–peer relationships and provide support and guidance, when necessary. Some students with hearing loss may be unaware or misunderstand incidental information and social nuances.
- Promote social interaction and reduce isolation for students who use sign language by:
- establishing a sign language instruction club for hearing peers, staff and, possibly, community members
- providing opportunities and/or information to parents regarding opportunities to interact with other signing
- students and adult role models via Skype or videoconferencing.
- Provide communication support during extracurricular activities, field trips and assemblies.
- Foster students' understanding of their interests, strengths and areas of need, and promote self–advocacy skills so students can ask for what they need.
- Get the student's attention with a soft touch or visual sign and keep eye contact.
- Speak naturally without overemphasizing. Short sentences are best.
- Keep mouth visible. (Don't turn away, cover your mouth, etc.)
- Facilitate speech reading by not standing in front of windows or other light sources.
- Use the words "I" and "you" and keep direct eye contact, even when using an interpreter. Remember you are communicating directly with the student.
- Use gestures, body language, and facial expressions to support communication.
Kids Health is a great website that explains different health issues in kid friendly terms. This website could be introduced to the class to have peers explore and learn about their unique class mate.
- Be aware of student–peer relationships and provide support and guidance, when necessary. Some students with hearing loss may be unaware or misunderstand incidental information and social nuances.
- Promote social interaction and reduce isolation for students who use sign language by:
- establishing a sign language instruction club for hearing peers, staff and, possibly, community members
- providing opportunities and/or information to parents regarding opportunities to interact with other signing
- students and adult role models via Skype or videoconferencing.
- Provide communication support during extracurricular activities, field trips and assemblies.
- Foster students' understanding of their interests, strengths and areas of need, and promote self–advocacy skills so students can ask for what they need.
- Get the student's attention with a soft touch or visual sign and keep eye contact.
- Speak naturally without overemphasizing. Short sentences are best.
- Keep mouth visible. (Don't turn away, cover your mouth, etc.)
- Facilitate speech reading by not standing in front of windows or other light sources.
- Use the words "I" and "you" and keep direct eye contact, even when using an interpreter. Remember you are communicating directly with the student.
- Use gestures, body language, and facial expressions to support communication.
Kids Health is a great website that explains different health issues in kid friendly terms. This website could be introduced to the class to have peers explore and learn about their unique class mate.
Peer's Perspective on hearing loss - video
Here is a music video signed in ASL by deaf and hard of hearing students to their hearing classmates. The song has a great message that students can listen to while being exposed to the signing in the video. You could also get the lyrics printed or put up on the board and have a class discussion about acceptance and ask the deaf or hard of hearing student to fill in their classmates with some information and possibly even take questions.