Hybrid Learning & Hearing Loss

Today, more and more students are now attending classes in-person, virtually online, or they are engaging in hybrid learning. Students with hearing loss, auditory processing disorders, and/or deafness face challenges in any class setting.

How can Teachers and Students Prepare?

Students who are hard of hearing may need additional accommodations to effectively learn in-person or virtually. This extra support must be planned out. Practice your lesson plan before carrying them out with students. Test out your video conferencing tools to make sure that it runs smoothly and provides closed captions. Programs such as Google and Microsoft feature real-time captioning, which helps listeners follow along. 

All of your students should be provided with access to notes, classwork, and study guides before the class begins. This will give them a chance to briefly review the material. Learning some information about the topic before class can help students with hearing loss stay on track.      
  
Another tip is to give students time to chat with each other before class begins. This will give the hard of hearing student a chance to make adjustments to their audio/video if needed. 

Make Good Use of Visual Aids

Whether a student has hearing loss or not, a room that is too dark can hinder the ability to effectively communicate. People with hearing loss rely on visual cues, such as facial expressions and hand gestures, to piece a conversation together. Be sure to have lighting in front of your face, instead of behind them as to prevent shadows. If possible, use a clear mask to allow students to read lips and visual cues. 

Exercise and encourage your students to practice good communication skills. This would include: 

• Only allowing one person to speak at a time
• Ask the person who is hard of hearing if they would rather have others speak slowly and loudly, or at a regular pace. In some cases, hard of hearing individuals also read lips, so speaking slowly distorts the way words look when spoken at a slower pace.     
• Face the person who is listening.
• Use hand gestures and body language.
• Students must raise their hands before they speak, especially when communicating via video. 

Utilize Assistive Listening Devices in the Classroom

Speaking louder is now necessary due to social distancing. Sound systems are helpful to provide easier ways to communicate inside the classroom so that instructors don’t need to constantly shout. Students with hearing aids will appreciate the boost in volume without struggling to hear. 

Teachers and students who have hearing loss may use devices like a table microphone that can be used to pick up a speakers’ voice. Remote microphones, which can be connected to hearing aids, can stream sounds directly into compatible hearing aids. 

If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation.   

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